Employee Time Management
We all could use a little help with
employee time management skills from time to time? The most
successful of us are definitely very good time managers but do we teach,
train and coach our employees to do the same? Those of us who want to
get better start with learning more about how we can enhance these
skills.
It all starts with good organization.
This will give you clarity and set you on a path to
success. We have created a guide to better organization called
Organize
Prioritize Act! or OPA. Take a look at it to see if it can work for
you.
How can you become more proactive
and effective in employee time management? Here are some of the keys.
Help them develop a plan. Organize
“big bucket items” first. Get very specific at the end of each week to
plan for the week ahead. Schedule on Friday for the following week. If
you wait until Monday morning you have lost at least half a day and that
is when most items that need immediate attention occur. Prepare on
Friday!
Prioritize. Know what is important
and schedule the bulk of your time in these areas. The most successful
business people know what “brings home the bacon” and they spend most of
their time in these areas. If it is not on your priority list…..then
delegate it whenever possible.
Delegation. Tell me if this sounds
familiar. “Rather than have someone else do it, I’ll do it and do it
right”. One of the largest opportunities that I see in newly promoted
managers is the lack of delegation. Delegation accomplishes two things,
prepares your team for advancement and enables you to stay focused on
your highest priority items. Delegate, delegate, delegate!
Set meeting times and stick to them.
Avoid “floating” meeting times. Show respect by starting and ending your
meetings on time.
Stay on message, schedule ample time for
discussion, and do not let your meetings get “high jacked” by items that
are specific to one individual or are not relevant to the meeting topic.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals These are goals that are specific, measurable,
attainable, realistic, and timely. These goals are applicable to all
areas. Setting proper goals could be the difference between success and
failure. If you don't know where you are going....how are you going to
get there?
Employee time management is what
makes most larger businesses successful and can be the difference
between success and failure at most small businesses. Large companies
expect this and train their management in these areas. The gap is much
greater in small business. If you own or manage a small business and
apply these techniques you will pass many others in the line to success!
