Page 28 - MyCottleville Magazine Jan/Feb 2017

Seven Principles of Time Management
Many leaders today nd themselves wanting to improve their time management skills. We read books, attend training classes, buy the latest apps for our smart phones, and in many cases work with a professional coach—with the hope that we will discover that one magic secret which will give us more hours in our days. Sorry to burst that bubble, but there is nothing anyone can teach you that will add more hours to your day. However, there are things we can all do to increase our productivity and thus become better managers of the time we have been given. The following are seven timeless prin- ciples of time management to get you started on the journey:
1) Time is our most precious resource. Consider for a moment all of the resources you manage. Money, people, facili- ties, inventory, etc. All of these resources can be replenished when we need more. However, time itself cannot. You cannot make time. You cannot borrow time. You cannot save time. You cannot extend time. You can only use it. And once you use it, it is gone forever. Think about all the time and energy you and your organization spend in meetings focused on all of the other resources. They are important resources, and we should focus on them. Most leaders and organization do not spend any time or energy on where they are spending their time. Maybe it is time for you to break the cycle.
2) We all get the same amount of time. Who are your role models? Who do you admire from history? Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Margaret Thatcher, Mahatma Gandhi, Moses, Sandra Day O’Connor – all of these great leaders (and your competitors) receive the same amount of time each that you receive . . . 168 hours a week. The secret is not to try and nd more hours, the secret is to better use the hours you already have.
3) Clarity on mission and vision is critical. What is it you really do? Not your job title. What do you produce? Once you are clear on your mission, re ect back on your last few weeks and months and honestly access how much of your time is spent in the area of your mission. None of us will ever be able to spend 100% of our time on our mis- sion. But even a small improvement of 1-2 percent can make a huge difference over the course of a year. Leaders know the value of vision for their organization. How about for you personally? What are you working toward in your life? Invest the time to gain clarity on your mission and vision. These elements should be the foundation for all of your time management practices. Take an honest look at your calendar and your to-do list. Do you see a connection between your tasks and activities to your mission and vision? It never happens by accident. We must be intentional.
4) Prioritizing your time must be intentional. Think about what you did yesterday. Those were your priorities. Think about how you spent your time last week. Those were your priorities. We are all constantly making choices about how we spend our time. If you really want to change how you are spending your time, it will require intentionality on your part about prioritizing your tasks and activities. Do not allow your inbox, to-do list, or someone else to deter- mine your priorities. Learn to be proactive when you create your schedule and to-do list so you are working on top priorities before other items.
5) Most of what we do each day is a habit. Research has shown that as much as 60% or more of what we do each day can be categorized as a habit. What does this have to do with time management? If you want to change how you are spending your time, you need to realize that it will often require changing your habits. The challenge here is that there is also research showing habits cannot really be removed, they can only be replaced. There is a great book called, The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg which can provide some valuable insights into habits. What habits do you have which need to be replaced soon?
28 | MyCottleville Magazine
By: Ken Willard - Contributor