Time management is really about how we manage ourselves. It’s about how we focus, how we discipline ourselves, and how we stick to habits that we know work. Managers have the added challenge of knowing their team is observing their habits and behaviors. Like it or not, employees watch their managers for tips on how to do it right.
How can you be sure that you’re setting a good example?
- Take quiet time at the beginning and end of each day to reflect on your accomplishments.
- Do your most creative work when you are at your peak energy time of the day.
- Slow down and be mindful about your behavior at work. Take plenty of quiet moments to reflect on your project list and to-do list to be sure they are tied to the bigger strategic picture.
- Don’t rush around. If you are feeling under pressure, take some deep breaths in private or take a walk. Our judgment is one of the first things that gets affected by rushing and chaos. If you show how stressed you are, your employees will feel stressed too.
- Delegate! If there is something on your list that could be a development opportunity for one of your employees, give it up. Set up a time to talk about the project and help your subordinate develop a winning project plan.
- Keep open spaces in your calendar so you can maintain a good perspective and are prepared for the unknown.
- Take care of yourself. Schedule in exercise, relaxation, thinking time, and plan ahead so these event become part of your schedule. Think about and make a plan to ensure healthy eating both at work and at home.
- Share your time management tips with your employees and encourage them to share theirs. Together you can create an environment of time management best practices. Much of time management comes from inside, rather than out. Once you change your own behavior, you’ll be surprised at the impact it will have on others.
To talk to someone about time management, consider calling your EAP. Sometimes an impartial person can help you think creatively change, particularly when it’s about changing your own behavior.
