How effectively someone handles and utilizes his time, often
becomes the essential difference between ineffectual and effective
leadership! The reality is that being a leader, at times, may
potentially overwhelm someone, if he permits obstacles, challenges, and
other distractions, to dominate his mindset, course of action, and his
precious time. In my over three decades of identifying, qualifying,
training, developing and consulting to well over a thousand individuals
in either actual or potential positions of leadership, I have often
observed some otherwise, extremely talented, prepared and ready
individuals, end up with far less than stellar results, predominantly
because they were unable to master and/or control their time management.
In order to assist those who want to lead, in their quest to best
handle this component, I have created five questions that someone should
objectively, and introspectively, ask himself, and proceed to
thoroughly answer thoroughly. How much time does the average person waste? Is quality merely about the amount of time one spends, or how effectively it is expended? Doesn't it make sense that the best leader, real estate professional, fiancial representative, consultant, etc, will perform better and more effectively, when he is more stress - free, and can balance his business and personal time, in a quality of life, personally self - fulfilling manner?
1. What is the result you desire? How can you effectively plan, in an efficient way, unless you begin with a focus on the solutions, and results, you wish to accomplish and/or achieve? When you know what you hope to do, you are then capable of effectively planning, in a clear-cut, directed, meaningful way. Effective time management must start with realistic, relevant goals, and a solution leadership approach!
2. What steps need to be taken? Human nature is such, that we often become overwhelmed, when we only look at the longer-term needs, and fail to break our plans down into easily digested, manageable steps. Understand and follow the adage which tells us, You know how to eat the elephant? One bite at a time? Breaking one's action plan down into components, permits us to measure progress, and gain positives, for small steps, which tend to motivate most of us, to persist and persevere.
3. How do you know if you're on the right track? By measuring incremental progress, and reviewing, on a regular basis, a leader becomes better capable of balancing when to persist, versus when to change one's course of action. Know what needs to be done, each step along the way, and you will stop wasting lots of time.
4. Can you discipline yourself to stay on track? What will you do to minimize time-wasting distractions? Some of these include: beginning all meetings on-time, and making it clear that you expect others to follow suit, and that you consider time to be precious; only take telephone calls at specific times; avoid over-looking at your Smartphone, and schedule specific times for that activity; avoid interruptions, etc.
5. Can you avoid distractions that waste time? Develop a system that works for you, and that you will stick to! These include: taking calls; returning calls; meetings agendas/disciplines; texting policy; email reviewing; conversations; etc. Be certain to schedule some down-time (or personal time), so as to avoid burning out, frustration, and wasting time.
Great leaders are invariably superb time managers! Create a methodology that will work best for you!
1. What is the result you desire? How can you effectively plan, in an efficient way, unless you begin with a focus on the solutions, and results, you wish to accomplish and/or achieve? When you know what you hope to do, you are then capable of effectively planning, in a clear-cut, directed, meaningful way. Effective time management must start with realistic, relevant goals, and a solution leadership approach!
2. What steps need to be taken? Human nature is such, that we often become overwhelmed, when we only look at the longer-term needs, and fail to break our plans down into easily digested, manageable steps. Understand and follow the adage which tells us, You know how to eat the elephant? One bite at a time? Breaking one's action plan down into components, permits us to measure progress, and gain positives, for small steps, which tend to motivate most of us, to persist and persevere.
3. How do you know if you're on the right track? By measuring incremental progress, and reviewing, on a regular basis, a leader becomes better capable of balancing when to persist, versus when to change one's course of action. Know what needs to be done, each step along the way, and you will stop wasting lots of time.
4. Can you discipline yourself to stay on track? What will you do to minimize time-wasting distractions? Some of these include: beginning all meetings on-time, and making it clear that you expect others to follow suit, and that you consider time to be precious; only take telephone calls at specific times; avoid over-looking at your Smartphone, and schedule specific times for that activity; avoid interruptions, etc.
5. Can you avoid distractions that waste time? Develop a system that works for you, and that you will stick to! These include: taking calls; returning calls; meetings agendas/disciplines; texting policy; email reviewing; conversations; etc. Be certain to schedule some down-time (or personal time), so as to avoid burning out, frustration, and wasting time.
Great leaders are invariably superb time managers! Create a methodology that will work best for you!
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