Time management, an essential skill for any manager to possess, when effectively used can bring about increased productivity. As a manager, this is the hardest job: to prioritize if your team needs your presence today or you need to lock yourself in your office so you can work on a project.
How do you do it?
- Create an email system – it is easy to get sucked into the vortex of reading all your emails in one sitting. But this only serves to take up too much time doing one activity. Instead create folders to segregate emails. For example: action required, read later, reference material. This will optimize time spent on answering emails.
- Block time for yourself – as a manager and leader you want to be approachable and available for your team at all times. But when there’s work that you need to get done like make a deck, work on a pitch, etc. you need to block an hour or so where you can completely focus on the task at hand. That may mean looking away from your phone, telling your team you’re unavailable at such and such time, etc.
- Prioritize and delegate – you are a human being and you cannot be in all places at once. Having the month’s calendar will keep you forewarned of important touchpoints coming up and in case something that urgently requires your attention crops up, you know what you can delegate where.
- Physical exercise – find a time slot in your day that is roped off for doing any kind of physical activity that you enjoy, even if it’s a brisk walk in the office compound. More than keeping fit, exercise will also help you stay alert throughout the day.
Why is it essential?
- Increased productivity
- Ensures work gets done without you having to stretch yourself too thin
- Reduces stress
- Better work flow
- Helps build you a stellar reputation
