Effective Time Management is a challenge for everybody. Most people keep running all day long, complaining about time constraint. But have they ever analyses the way they emply their Time.
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“In this textbook you’ll will learn skills and techniques to prioritise your work, how to avoid time wasting events and how to communicate what you want and what you don’t want!”
I’m interested in reading that book; especially if it demonstrates how to avoid other people wasting your time through idle talk. Sometimes I wish I could work alone because for all the organizing and prioritizing I plan it all goes to waste having to enter into excessive talking in the office.
I’ve seen it happen in every job I been in. The conversations always start as work related and then inevitably morph into useless gossip. If you don’t participate then you’re labelled as boring, workaholic or not part of team. If you try to bring the conversation back on track to where it started or leave the group and get back to work it is often a futile exercise. The main problem is that if you work as a team and rely on others working to a tight schedule you can’t do your work unless they do theirs…sigh.
As I said, I hope the book has some solution to this mega time waster of a problem.
The book alone will not change anything but it may help you to change and master skills such as the art of Saying No, the many diplomatic ways of others to remember than we are born with two ears and one mouth for a reason. Unfortunately there are too many ways to allow time to pass by. Don’t give up… just think how Leonardo da Vinci, Mozart and others managed to get so much done!
You are correct Sir and thank you for reminding me to occasionally say No. It is one of my biggest faults and one which my wife continuously reprimands me for. The fact is that I almost expect it as a standard reply from others but I find it difficult to return the favour. I must endeavour to find the best formula to let people down softly or at the very least to postpone the inevitable Yes that I will unconsciously spurt out.
As to likes of da Vinci or Mozart I think that true genius cannot surface in a crowded room. Introspection from solitude or at least peace and quiet is compulsory. Personally I work well in the chaotic workplace but my best ideas have always come from the safe and peaceful haven of the men’s room. 😉