Time is a valuable commodity because it’s such a limited resource. The clock’s always ticking and deadlines are always drawing near so project managers can’t afford to waste precious moments on any frivolous matters.
Unfortunately, it seems that many companies don’t understand the basics of time management. According to a recent survey conducted by McKinsey Quarterly, only 9 percent of executives are very satisfied with their current workloads and how they have to allocate their time. Frankki Bevins and Aaron De Smet, two of the news source’s contributors, attribute this dismal result to the fact that many enterprises treat time like an unlimited resource.
Because time mismanagement is such an issue, company leaders must develop solutions to ensure that they don’t feel overburdened. Furthermore, supervisors must also keep their allocations at manageable levels to avoid burnout and undue stress.
Ideally, project managers should work to develop realistic schedules for themselves and their employees. The following is a list of some helpful tips for improving time management.
What goals can actually be achieved?
When you’re leading a project, the ultimate goal is to complete the assignment. However, this end can rarely be reached in a single day. In an interview that was published by the OPEN Forum, Suzana Simic, manager of career services at Computer Systems Institute, explained to Vivian Giang that the ideal strategy is to list daily objectives and gradually build momentum.
“The day the tasks are due, check them off one by one until you’ve accomplished all your daily tasks. Setting goals and achieving them will boost your morale and get you fired up for the next task,” Simic said.
To follow Simic’s system, you need to carefully review the project and determine which portions should be completed first. Once you have a set order, decide which assignments can be completed within a traditional work day. Remember that you’ll have to spend some time guiding your employees so you shouldn’t fill every minute with other work.
For your staff members, you should create realistic goals. Don’t ask workers to finish every single assignment in a day because they’ll burn out trying to complete their allocations.
Seek feedback
In a report for the Chicago Tribune, Daneen Skube recently recommended that workers should ask to have efficiency meetings with their managers. These conferences allow employees to speak about they feel about their current workload and develop strategies for assignments that can’t be completed based on the schedule.
These discussions should be a regular part of every project because circumstances change for employees. For instance, one worker might be able to complete a large assignment one month, but may need a smaller allocation later because of personal matters.
During efficiency meetings, you need to be actively listening to your contributors before you speak. Workers should be given the floor so they can air their grievances and talk about what challenges they’ve been dealing with in recent weeks.
Before you start speaking, you need to think about how someone’s personal situations will affect productivity and the quality of their work. If an employee seems stressed and overburdened, he or she will likely struggle with any new assignments.
Always try to meet workers half way between what they think they can do and what projects you need them to complete. Finding a middle ground will ensure that projects will be finished by their deadlines without overwhelming your staff members.
Time management isn’t an easy practice, but it’s a necessary part of succeeding during any project. Learning how to allocate work and properly schedule certain assignments can eliminate stress and bolster efficiency.
