Time management
The main idea. The way you manage your time will help or hinder you in doing your job well. Thinking and planning is necessary if you are to cope with unexpected happenings
Activity
1. Understand the best time of day for you and plan around that.
Most people have a more effective time of day. You may be "morning people" or you may really come alive later in the day. Get clear about your best time, and do the more challenging or significant activities then.
2. Schedule your priorities and make a realistic plan
Make a basic plan for yourself of what needs to be done, in the day and in the week, and how important each item is - in the moment, but also in terms of its long term effects. Include the 'people' issues in your plan, as well as the tasks, so as to keep everyone working at their best.
3. The "time-wasting" activities you may have to be involved in - how can you make them more useful?
You may have to do things (such as go to meetings) that don't fit into your plan or your priorities. In most cases you can make them valuable by for example getting to know how different people operate, making connections, or even just thinking about useful things. Sitting and fuming about the waste of time is probably the most time-wasting thing you can do.
4. Be realistic about what you can achieve.
When starting a new new role as a manager it's easy to work too hard, to get very stressed and to lose sight of what's achievable. A priority list can certainly help with this; noticing your own stress and anxiety is also important. If need be you should talk to your own manager about your workload.
Working with a high level of stress is ineffective and will do you no good in the long run.
Listen to Sandra's advice below..... She's been managing for some time, but can remember how it was for her. (Click the forward arrow to hear what she has to say)
There is more about delegating, coaching and prioritising on the members pages.
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