There are many things entrepreneurs and future leaders must learn when starting a business. Running a company is much different from being an employee, but this doesn’t mean you can’t adopt the skills you have learned during your career. One crucial skill is time management. Time management can make or break your chances of success. However, not everyone is blessed with excellent time management skills. Consider the following tips to help you stay in control of your time.
Repurpose Your Downtime
Everyone needs and deserves downtime in their workday. Those inexperienced with time management can often take downtime too far. Finding ways to maximize your free time can be beneficial when learning how to manage your day better. Make sure to take advantage of those small pockets of spare time you have, whether it’s right after you get home or just after lunch, to send some emails or prepare your work for the next day.
Make Use of Online Resources
Some meetings or courses can take up a substantial amount of time. This is one of the reasons why the internet can and will be your friend. No matter what industry you work in, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of online resources that can help you prepare for meetings, presentations, and classes. Teachers, for example, have too much on their plate already so that they can use tools like the Free Third-Grade Writing worksheets from Studentreasures Publishing. These worksheets are ready to hand out in class rather than design a brand new worksheet themselves. When using online resources, be sure to give credit to the source when required to.
Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate
There can be many reasons why managers are afraid to delegate. They might fear failure, or they may not trust their team to carry out the project the way they have envisioned. This immediately demonstrates a problem for several reasons. For one, you should be preparing your team to take on more responsibilities. But, on a time management front, it means you’re stressing yourself out and overloading your day. Your team will never prove themselves if you do not trust them, so loosen the reins and embrace delegation to stop you from trying to balance too much at once.
Rethink Your Prioritization
Every office and workplace has its priorities. Projects and meetings are competing with admin work and accounting reviews. The problem that many professionals run into is that they prioritize the wrong things. The smaller tasks might seem more appealing right now, but they can waste too much time every day as you switch from one task to another. Many managers who have mastered the art of time management will finish the most challenging thing first, which gives them the rest of the day to focus on other tasks. You will also gain a sense of accomplishment for tackling what looked like a difficult task. You’ll be motivated to take on the next, much smaller task on your list.
Learning how to manage your time effectively will make you more efficient and productive, including mental benefits. If you have a plan for what you’re doing each day and set aside enough time to complete your tasks, your stress levels will drop dramatically. For busy professionals, this can help you maintain your energy and ensure you’re always at your best. If you need assistance with your time management skills, reach out to me to work together to take control of your day. Here’s to YOUR success!
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Leadership, and Mentor Coach. She is the Chairwoman and CEO of Infinity Coaching, Inc., where they help you up-level your skills so you can up-level your income. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, and personality assessments. Carolyn is certified to give the Energy Leadership Index and Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessments. You can find out more about both assessments and other products and services at https://infinitycoaching.net.
