A Simple Time Management Tip - Put Things Away

The Discipline of Putting Things Away

This post was curated because I need to hear this too...read on...

Author: Dana Byers

Failure in the area of putting things away means we keep items out “just in case“. Is it possible we don’t put things away because we’re indecisive? Or do we keep items out because we’re multi-tasking instead of focusing well? No matter whether you think having a cluttered area to work in sparks creativity or not, I have landed on the observation that I’m personally more productive when only the items I need for a specific task are before me.

Here are some areas in my family’s life where we’re guilty of leaving things out:

* Laundry: I’m good at starting a load in the wash, but putting it away is another story.

* Dishes: Same story as laundry.

* It’s not uncommon for a craft to be started before bedtime in our home then left out until the next day…or two.

* Items that are carried into our cars are sometimes not taken into the house or thrown away when we return home.

* Toys: Need I say more? We’ve identified homes for them, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are put away.

While I struggle with others’ messes that remain in our home from time to time, there are a few areas I’ve taken note of lately where I’m doing well at putting things away – my makeup and hairdryer after I get ready in the morning, and resetting my desk to order before I leave my office at day’s end. I think there are two reasons for this:

1) I am the only person responsible for these tasks, so they get done. (Translation: I cannot control my family members’ choices about putting things away, but I can control mine for the most part.)

2) I know I’ll be back the next day to do the same task and want to have a smooth start. (Reason: The reward of  beginning a routine task without a mess before me is motivating.)

Each time we leave things out we avoid making decisions. Narrowing options for our next task is hard. Allowing ourselves to be distracted by something more fun than putting things away means we move on without understanding a task is as complete as it can be at this time.

Now it’s your turn. Identify which tasks you’re already experiencing success in putting things away. Determine what motivates you, then work on forming the habit of putting things away in one of the areas in which you’d like to improve.

Which tasks would you like to get better about putting things away when they are done?

Source Link: http://danabyers.com/2013/02/18/the-discipline-of-putting-things-away/

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Need more help getting the right things done at the right time?
Consider the following:
1. Engage a productivity coach - just a few sessions can make all the difference.
2. Get:  Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed - how to manage your time, space, & priorities, to work smart, get results & be happy -  Kindle - The Book - Nook - Audio Book -  The Seminar

Are You Keeping Your Time Management Efforts A Secret?

That may sound like a crazy question, but think about it.  Many people begins efforts to become more skilled in this area, but don't inform the people around them.  And many times those are the very people who impact your time management the most - either in a positive or negative way.  It's those who may be part of the problem.

Well if this describes you, here is a simple and dare I say obvious time management tip: Employ the people around you to help you out!  Ask them to hold you accountable.

Call it a bit of reverse psychology.  Instead of saying to a colleague, "Hey stop interrupting me!" Let them know you're really working on your time management and you would love to get their help! Then, give them some actual things to do or say or strategies to practice with you.

I think one of the best results of harnessing the help of the people around you will be indirectly keep those very people in check themselves.

So consider these questions:
With whom would you like to employ this time management strategy?
What do you want them to do or say?
How will you reward or celebrate with this person to cement the commitment or achievement? (This is a great idea...consider an incentive in the endeavor that you both can share!)
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Need more help getting the right things done at the right time?
Consider the following:
1. Engage a productivity coach - just a few sessions can make all the difference.
2. Get:  Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed - how to manage your time, space, & priorities, to work smart, get results & be happy -  Kindle - The Book - Nook - Audio Book -  The Seminar

Time Management is a Leadership Competency

Curator's Notes: Again, another article on time management.  Do you think people turn a deaf ear to the topic/skill of time management?  It's one of the most searched key words on Google, yet many people lack even the most basic skills surrounding it.  I say it should be a part of every employee orientation or a required training for every employee.

Of particular note are leaders who do not possess this skill, as their ripple effect usually has much greater consequences.  So, let's just put forward this premise -- time management is a leadership and management competency. Read on...

3 Biggest Things Hurting Your Productivity

There's one thing every leader needs to have to be great: time management. Struggling? Take a look at what may be hurting your leadership.

In my years of coaching founders, owners, and executives, I've found that one key skill is the doorway to just about everything else. Get this one thing right, and everything else follows. Screw it up, and you'll face an uphill battle all the way.

What is this magic skill? In a simpler age, it was calledtime management. A while back, the terminology changed to productivity management.

Now, in the 24/7 information era, I prefer to call it environment control-- the ability to manage the swirling, chaotic, constant flow of information, decisions and tasks that surround every leader.

Why is this seemingly mechanistic skill so important in the development of leaders? The answer is simple, but hiding in plain sight: I've found that most would-be leaders have the mental, emotional, and physical resources necessary to develop whatever skill or attribute is asked of them.

Whether developing as a leader requires you to work on the art of delegation, or more courageous risk-taking, or becoming more innovative (your mileage will vary), chances are you are quite capable of developing that skill. If you have the time and space to do it.

And there's the kicker: you probably don't have the time and space to do it. You start with good intentions, but the sheer pressure of other commitments and the constant inflow of new demands, new information, prevent you from taking a disciplined, structured approach to building the new skill you need.

Net result, six months later, little has changed. You're still not delegating enough, not thinking strategically enough, not innovating enough. Taking a firm grip on the environment around you--getting to the point where you can control how and where you spend your limited resources--involves radically upending how you approach three key areas of your life:

1. Your Calendar.

If you regularly slough off meetings because you're overbooked, end the day embarrassed because you failed to show for conference calls you were expected on, or spend your time scurrying from one late-running meeting to the next, you're not going to develop as a leader. You'll simply stay on the same hamster-wheel, trapped in a groundhog day of your own making. No excuse: Great leaders have the exact same 24 hours a day that you do. They just manage them better.

2. Your Commitments.

When was the last time you made an inventory of all the outstanding commitments you've made to others? Or even just noted down the commitments you casually added in one day?  Stuck leaders fail to realize that we can't keep making commitments, large and small, without at some point overloading our ability to deliver on those commitments. If you've reached the point where others can't trust you to do what you say you'll do, you have a systemic problem--one that will fatally stall your ability to grow as a leader.

3. Your Communications.

Got 400 unread emails in your inbox? Looking at a reading pile the size of a small library? Do outstanding reports and presentations start yelling for attention every time you open your laptop?

If so, your ability to lead is being compromised--severely compromised--by the pressure to manage.

I wish I had a magician's ability to make the problem of environment control go away overnight. I don't. But I do know that until you fix it, you'll never be the leader you want to be. 

There is a solution, but requires hard work (sadly, not a popular concept in much of today's leadership literature). Grab one of the many great resources on environment control, and invest the time needed to install systems and processes that will give you mastery over your calendar, commitments and communications. 

Personally, I highly recommend David Allen's classic guide, Getting Things Done (full disclosure, the author is a friend of mine, but I admired and benefited from his book long before we met), but there are many others out there.  The issue is not a shortage of resources. The issue is your commitment.

Are you prepared to invest time to learn the only leadership skill you may ever need?

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3 Additional Recommendations: 

1. Consider some time management coaching - I'm happy to help you with that: em: joann@joanncorley.com

2. My release: Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed - how to manage your time, space, & priorities, to work smart, get results & be happy -  Kindle - The Book - Nook - Audio Book -  The Seminar

3. Make sure you offer a time management seminar at minimum once a year for your organization or professional group - click to learn more

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Source link: http://www.inc.com/les-mckeown/3-things-hurting-your-ability-to-be-productive.html
Les McKeown is the author of the bestseller "Predictable Success: Getting Your Organization on the Growth Track--and Keeping It There" and is the CEO of Predictable Success, a leading adviser on accelerated organizational growth. His latest book is "The Synergist: How to Lead Your Team to Predictable Success." @lesmckeown

Save Time - Don't Plan...Too Much

Do You Plan Too Much? - 

An Essential Time Management Tip

Wc: 173

#productivity #timemanagement 

If you're reading this tip at all it’s probably because you have the personality type 
that is a natural planner, which of course has great value. 
Yet, too much of a strength could be used in excess resulting in outcomes 
we don’t want.

The excess?...sometimes planners can plan too much.  They want to figure 
out all the steps before they get started. That can lead to what I call 
“the paralysis of analysis.”  Perhaps we could consider this insight - 
planning "just enough" could actually be a time management skill!
...interesting thought.

What to do?

First, recognize and admit that you might be an over planner.

Secondly, decide to create a sweeping overview

Thirdly, plan more specifically the first few steps.

What you’ll discover is that as you move forward you become educated
on how to keep moving forward. You’ll probably begin to see that all 
that previous planning you use to do got tweaked anyway. 

Remember: action brings clarity and that’s what leads me to a very 
important final tip: over planning in many cases, is really A WASTE of time.  
Oh the irony!

Check out the latest release: Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed -
how to manage your time, space, & priorities, to work smart, get results &
be happy -  Kindle - The Book - Nook - Audio Book -  The Seminar

The Seminar This blog is based on this book. In it are actionable ideas on 

being a better manager: The 1% Edge - The Workbook - Power Strategies to Increase 
Your Management Effectiveness

An Alternative to On Line Learning

Replace On Line Learning with Digitial Learning and An App #timemanagement  

When I do a google search for keywords addressing the need for time management training, one of the most popular is "on line time management" and "time management course." Well, one of the creative alternatives to e-learning is a cd series, combined with an app! (Besides who wants to sit in front of an e-learning module anyway - free yourself - unshackle yourself from that monitor!)

My audio series (3 cds or digital format) is the audio version of a seminar that I've done across the country - Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed.  So along with cds or a download are supplemental lessons in the 1% Edge Portable Coach - the app (which includes access to me!)...it's a super alternative to a traditional on line delivery.

If you are one of those folks who'd like a comprehensive time management training program or shall I say "mobile seminar," then I invite you to purchase the digitial version and down load the app. Then connect with me to let me know you'd done it and keep me in the loop on your progress!

To your success!
JoAnn

Next Steps
1. Download the APP - when you download the App - look under the Free Lessons Tab for subjects of personal productivity and personal effectiveness - Download APP - here 

2. Get Digital Version of Audio  ($9.95) You can get it on iTunes or Amazon - but it's more expensive.

(If you want to order the cds - send me an email and we can excute via PayPal - 3 cds in a very nice case = $24.95)

3. Or, get the book - Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed - have it your way -Kindle - The Book - Nook 


Got any questions - don't hesitate to contact me: joann@joanncorley.com

Technology & Time Management - Tool or Tyrant

It's such a catch 22 - technology can do so much to help save time, increasing our efficiency and "get it done" results. And yet, it can also be a tyrant. It can become addicting in fact robbing us of time and quality of life.

So, contained in this blog will be an ongoing discussion regarding the role of technology in time management.

In my own quest to find my 1% in time management - increasing my efficiency and getting better results I recently ran across 2 cool tools for managing gmail. In fact one of them (an email management game) helps with one of my tips in the book Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed - make faster decisions when processing email.

So here they are:

1. The Email Game (In fact making faster decisions is this weeks challenge in the 1% Edge Coaching App.)

Managing Email Game to help make decisions faster when processing email.

2.  Boomerang is a scheduling tool for email....here's the address with a demo video.

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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

Get The 1% Edge Portable Coach App - available on Android & Apple platforms

Time Management Skills - It's In The Little Things

I am more a firm believer than ever that if we focus on the little things that will translate into the big things.  I also believe that deciding to focus creates clarity which enhances the possibility of getting the results we really want!

So in the spirit of that, I recently launched a beta test for a coaching & training app called The 1% Edge Portable Coach.  Part of the piece of that coaching-training app will be devoted to productivity-time management.  So, if you'd like help really integrating what you're reading to get real results.  You want to download the app (it's free btw). Here is the link to access. Get App info. here

Whether you download it or not - I will on this blog - begin to share some of the weekly challenges presented on the app - many of which I'll be doing myself and would love some folks to participate with me and share you progress.
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The Challenge Currently on the APP - Recapture Time

APP Icon

This is the combined 2 Week Challenge and for those reading this post I challenge you to focus on 1 thing - "do the 1."  That 1 translates into the little things. Let me know your thoughts.

This was Week 1 Challenge - I am going to add one other time recapture technique to extend the week 1 challenge into a second week with another recommended action.

Increase Your Time Awareness - Track Time with time mapping

Coaching action: Get or create a week at a glance - map out how your time is being used. Then assess areas where you could recapture time and reassign.

Our theme this week: "Recapture time and reassign!"

Additionally check out the other suggestions below!

This Week's Challenge - Recapture Time
Coaching Question: How much time can you recapture within a cycle of a week?
Choose which context (option) you'd like to use:
A. How you use email
B. Managing interruptions
Coaching Instructions:
1. Keep track, whether by hour or segments of the day
2. Focus Daily - tally daily results
3. Report progress through-out the week in the Fan Wall section
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OPTION #1 - Managing Interruptions

How Skilled Are You At Managing Interruptions?

Managing Interruptions - An Essential Time Management Skill

These days our workplaces are busier and more fluid than ever and gives new meaning to the phrase "open door." It's transformed into open cube, open work space, etc.

And yet, we gotta get work done! I think many of us function more in a "sort of open door" environment...meaning in many cases "I'm available, but really not."

There is a delicate balance to effectively managing this predicament. We don't want to impede team productivity, as we try to get our own piece of the pie done.

So, an essential skill and time management tip in working productively in a group environment is to manage interruptions with tact and finesse.

Here's a few tips:

1. If there is anyplace in your work area that invites folks to sit...cover it with something personal.  People tend to not touch personal things without asking permission.  That way you can control how those sitting areas are used.  Or, you could remove it all together if need be.

2. Lead people with your body (and by the way this is one of my favorite ideas).  How?  First, stand up.  If sitting in your cube - face them, if in your office - walk around your desk and meet them in front of it.

Then, state a verbal boundary, "Hi, how can help I have just about 3 mins. right now." The key here is to state an exact number, rather than use the word "a few."

Next?...look at a time piece.  That communicates both on a conscious and subconscious level that you really mean you only have 3 minutes and you'll be monitoring the time.

And finally, continue to lead by closing the conversation. Make sure you have key phrases or statements you are ready to use with which you feel comfortable. The key is not to wait for them to stop talking.  YOU must close or end the time...indicating you meant what you said when you set the verbal boundary. 

To add fun to it, I've heard some managers use a sand timer from a game or a funky looking timer.

No matter what you use, the key is to lead the person, set boundaries, and then assertively close the conversation. 

You can do this with a decision to talk more later, starting to walk out of your work area as you are closing the conversation, or within 3 minutes you'll discover that's all the time that was really needed!

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OPTION #2 - Managing Email
This is really a key 21st century skill! In managing e-mail effectively it's best to do it in short time increments.  So I recommend starting with no more than three minutes - which really is an adequate amount of time! This action helps you learn how to work with your e-mail faster...
Here is the step by step process to follow:
1.  Determine how much time you're going to do it 
2.  Tell yourself to sort quickly or sort fast.  If you don't do that you do it at the same usual pace. Telling yourself to do it faster will enable you to actually do it at a faster pace! 
3. Use temporary holding folders. I talk about this practice in my book. When processing e-mail, you really only have four decisions to make: Forward,  Take Action,  Reserve for Reference or Delete. In recognizing there are only 4, you can also make decisions quicker! This is key!
Coaching key: Making decisions quicker, processing email quicker = recapture time! Note: If you're in a leadership role, use this tip to increase the productivity of your team this week. Make it fun - put a chart on the way and see how much you can collectively recapture this week! Have you're team download the app. You can also use the app as an internal coaching resource. Reminder: Pick your option, focus daily, track progress, share progress on the Discussion Wall (or on this blog).


If effective time management is major issue for you - you may want to consider getting the book or bring a workshop to your company. Click here to learn more.

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

Get the app - available on Android & Apple platforms

Can Too Much Planning Be Time Wasted? - Yep!

A Productivity & Time Management Tip - Don't Over Plan!

Do You Plan Too Much?

Wc: 173

#productivity #timemanagement

If you re’ reading this tip at all it’s probably because you have the personality type that is a natural planner, which of course has great value. Yet, too much of a strength could be used in excess resulting in outcomes we don’t want.

The excess?...sometimes planners can plan too much.  They want to figure out all the steps before they get started. That can lead to what I call “the paralysis of analysis.”  

What to do?

First, recognize and admit that you might be an over planner.

Secondly, decide to create a sweeping overview

Thirdly, plan more specifically the first few steps.

What you’ll discover is that as you move forward you become educated on how to keep moving forward. You’ll probably begin to see that all that previous planning you use to do got tweaked anyway. 

Remember: action brings clarity and that’s what leads me to a very important final tip: over planning in many cases, is really A WASTE of time.  Oh

the irony!

Check out the latest release: Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed - how to manage your time, space, & priorities, to work smart, get results & be happy -  Kindle - The Book - Nook - Audio Book -  The Seminar

On Kindle: 

De-clutter Your Life From The Inside - Out

Your Life Through the Lens of Time - The Interview
This Blog - All Things Time Management

A Time Management Strategy - Engage a Coach

Get Time Management Help
Have you ever considered a time management coach?  They take on many names: productivity coach, success coach, or even life coach. Many in those categories are also skilled in the area of time management and can serve as an effective time management consultant.

One of the key benefits of coaching (coming from someone who not only conducts workshops, but does coaching as well) is a time management issue-solution in and of itself. I have many people sit my time management seminars in their entirety when, as an alternative,  they could ask me about exactly what they need. I then would give them advice, help them come up with a plan and they would then be on their.

Coaching provides the opportunity to:

• address core needs quickly
• come up with a customized time management plan
• and provide the support to see it implemented so the desired results are achieved
• also, results tend to be accellerated due to what I call the "hyper focus" that coaching creates (see the recent post on focus).

I consider coaching customized training and in fact, it is my belief, that it provides the highest return on investment for dollars spent on training. It really can be personalized time management training.

Here is a link that gives a general overview of what coaching is about. What is Coaching? If you feel a need to discuss this...feel free to contact me for a quick chat - no obligation.  For many personal and professional development needs, coaching can be an affordable option.
Email: joann@joanncorley.com