The Games of Time Management

Have you ever sat at your desk and literally played this mental game. Have you ever heard these types of questions or statements rolling through your mind?

What should I do first?

What is the priority, really?

Do, I really want to start with “that” project?

Should I wait until this afternoon to start making phone calls?

Should I rework my web page/marketing material?

How about if I give _______ a call and see how they are doing?

Playing the “eeny, meeny, miney, moe” game is a success killer. This game will only provide distractions, reasons to “not” do something, and ultimately you accomplish nothing. When is the last time you worked for or visited a successful company and saw people accomplishing “nothing?”

Focus is what is necessary to accomplish goals and objectives that will lead to success as you define it. Focus provides a clear image, a clear path of direction.

How do you achieve focus?

Start with the end in mind.

 Decide where you want to go and what you want to accomplish. You need to design the “big picture” in order to select and implement the necessary action steps. What is the vision for your company? What do you want to be known for and why? As a result of accomplishing your vision, what will change for you personally? The answer to these questions will provide the fuel and passion necessary to drive you to success.

Establish a Plan.

After you have established your desired vision, you need a plan … a plan that not only includes the vision, but a plan that lays out the mission (how you plan to accomplish the vision in a two to five year time frame). Internal and external assessments of the organization and your market place need to be conducted. Based on your direction and combined assessments, you can then create and proceed with sufficient and necessary critical goal categories that will bring the plan to life.

Implement the Plan. 

The critical goal categories are the broad goals established in your plan to begin the action planning process. Next, specific and detailed goals, which must meet the SMART criteria, need to be created. They will provide the daily, monthly, and quarterly plans as well as the needed measurement stick. These action steps must be determined with time lines, and the time commitments need to be immediately entered into your planning system. Having an unorganized time management system will inevitably cause challenges and lack of results.

Continuous Goal Review.

Know what measurements are critical to the success of your business and monitor them closely. Seek out assistance through a coaching or mentoring relationship where someone helps keep your feet to the fire. Being in your own “successful” business does not allow you the luxury of “doing it tomorrow” or playing the “eeny, meeny, miney, moe” game. It requires the same persistence and unyielding focus on the critical measurements … just like when you held corporate responsibilities.

Make a difference today

! We cannot control tomorrow … we can only plan for it, and yesterday is a cancelled check. The only thing we can control is today! Make a decision to review your action steps first thing every day and make the commitment to yourself (no matter what) that you will accomplish want needs to be accomplished. Long-term success comes from the dedication to do the right activity well and do it every day!

As they say in the ever-popular “FISH” video, “The choice is yours.” No one ever said that success was easy or “child’s play!”

 

Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in business and management consulting, strategic planning, leadership development, executive coaching, and youth leadership. For more information visit www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.