5 Strategies to Improve Time Management
“We all start out in life with one thing in common; We all have the same amount of time. It’s just a matter of what we do with it.” - Harvey MacKay
In a world of fast food, live streaming, quick stops, etc., time management is becoming a non-negotiable skill that determines one's success in life and business. It is hard when life gets busy with kids, family, job, side hustles, church, and anything else you throw into the mix. However, those who learn to manage their time well and prioritize will be far more successful in a world that constantly demands our attention.
First, we have to realize that time is a precious resource. In truth, you can’t “manage” time. To manage gives the idea you can change, create, or reduce in some way. We all have the same amount of time. What we are really doing is stewarding the time each day, week, month, year, etc. This is a constant thing we have to consider how we are stewarding our time each day. So, how do we effectively steward our time? Here are four (4) simple steps to work on your time stewardship!
Strategies for Effective Time Management (Stewardship):
Prioritize ruthlessly: Not all tasks are created equal. You must distinguish between urgent and important tasks, allocating time to those that are most important. Consider the Pareto Principal; 20% of your tasks will give you 80% of the return. Determine what has to be done first, and then do it! If it can be delayed or delegated, or maybe it’s something that doesn’t even need attention at all, those are not priority tasks.
Delegate with precision: Effective leaders recognize the value of delegation. Leaders, most of the time, like to hold on to responsibility. It makes them important and the savior when someone needs help. It does not help your team grow! Delegation fosters growth and allows leaders to focus on strategic and more serious matters of an organization. Trust your employees to do the job you hired them for and delegate responsibility to them so you are free to focus on those urgent tasks.
Set realistic goals and deadlines: Nothing is more challenging than an unrealistic goal or an impossible deadline. I’ve worked before under unrealistic expectations. The “get 5 tasks done in the time 2 should take” mentality. It stresses you out, pulls you in too many directions, and keeps you from being focused. I was told to undersell and overdeliver on deadlines to others. Say it will take 20 days when you think it will take 15, give yourself some breathing room. Goals the best way to handle these is using the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound), which offer a structured approach to goal-setting.
Utilize technology wisely: This ties into the thought of working smarter, not harder. Leverage technology to streamline processes and enhance productivity. There are plenty of tools, software, automation applications, AI tools, etc. I know of many entrepreneurs and small business owners who also may hire a virtual assistant or an administrative assistant just to reduce the amount of tasks they’re responsible for. Be smart with your time and technology, and it will improve your efficiency.
How are you doing at time management? If you’re honest like me, it’s not always great. It’s an area for improvement, and hopefully, these strategies will give you some thoughts on ways to continue improving throughout the remainder of the year!
Nick Dyson is the owner of Dyson Leadership and is a
Maxwell Leadership Certified Speaker, Trainer, and Coach. Providing Leadership coaching, training, workshops, Lunch & Learns, and more!
To learn more about training provided by Dyson Leadership, visit our webpage.
