A Fresh Look At An Old Topic – Are You An Exceptional Manager of Time?

A Fresh Look At An Old Topic – Are You An Exceptional Manager of Time?

I’ve had the great privilege over the past few years to conduct a professional development workshop entitled Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed.  In this workshop I challenged the attendees to look at the topic beyond “just another time management seminar.”

Here’s why. One’s ability to manage time translates into a ripple effect of outcomes and subset of skills that are essential to individual and company success. In fact I’ve suggested to many of my HR clients that time management should be a standard component of employee orientation – it’s an essential skill to executing business objectives and absolutely influences a company’s bottom line.

For sure someone skilled in time management is probably skilled in other high value capabilities as well. When looking deeper, here’s what else you may find:

1.     The ability to make decisions quickly

2.     The ability to process information and draw essential conclusions in a timely manner

3.     The ability to draw boundaries when interacting with people no matter what context - whether it’s an interruption, phone call or meeting.

4.     Exhibits a strong and comfortable sense of self

5.     Has a strong, clear sense of what the desired results are.

6.     Has a determination, a motivation to make it happen.

7.     The ability to manage emotions.

8.     The ability to not allow minor, low impact events to escalate

9.     Possesses constructive collaborative rapport to work with others to move a process along.

10. Does not allow themselves to get bogged down in the non-essentials.

11. The ability to delegate directed or indirectly (this is an art by the way).

12. Is sensitive to the use of other’s time.

13. Leverages technology vs. being managed by it.

…and this is just the short list.

Ultimately effective time management is effective self-management in the context of working with information (on and off line), technology, and relationships to get the desired results.

In fact I call the above list and others a term that I suggest we all use and that’s “profitable behaviors or capabilities.”   When you look at how employees behave in the workplace, I think it’s useful to frame them in this context, “are they profitable or not.”  The ability to mange time in fact embodies multiple profitable behaviors.

So the next time you see a time management training of any kind, consider the broader value.  It’s an opportunity to learn to leverage all the available tools to create the personal and professional life you desire.

Additionally, if you are a training decision maker see it as a non-optional component of your employee training and development repertoire; see it as a high return on investment, profit nurturing resource for your organization.

If you haven't yet got your version of Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed - have it your way -  Kindle - The Book - Nook - Audio Book -  The Seminar
Other readings on Kindle: 
Declutter Your Life From The Inside Out

Your LIfe Through the Lens of Time - The Interview