OPLDatabaseFile TIME MANAGEMENT, a little database that could change the way you work - life may never be the same again! Many of these ideas have been gathered over a long period of time by myself, friends and colleagues. Inevitably it is impossible to pay credit to the inventors of these little pearls of time handling suffice to say that if you are the originator please get in touch and I'll put the record straight! Glenn@arsenalfc.netQNCut out any activities or duties you have to perform that would not be missed.1JGStart the day with the unpleasant tasks that you have been putting off.2QNInvest more time in training your staff regardless of their status or ability.396Build into your plans an allowance for unplanned time.4GDLet people know in a polite yet firm manner if they waste your time.5c`Shorten any routes of communication you use and improve the quality of your information systems.6;8Find somewhere inaccessible to work on important things.7KHBefore interrupting someone, think about whether it is really necessary.8LEARN TO SAY NO!!9ZVConsolidate frequent short contacts with an individual into a regular planned meeting.10XTAvoid all distractions - do not sit in a place where you can gaze out of the window.11Keep your desk tidy!12,(Improve your storage and filing systems.1351Cut out the joking and get down to some business.14ZVLearn to accept that there are few tasks that can be performed to absolute perfection.15}yWhen looking at your office layout if your desk faces the door turn it around so that you are not inviting interruptions.16Have fewer meetings.18OKIdentify the time wasters among your staff and suppliers and root them out.19Buy a book on rapid reading techniques, the time spent reading such a book will save you a lot of time when dealing with other written information.20{Pay attention to those things you read all the time and decide if your performance would be worse if you did not read them.21]YDo not start many tasks over a long period, consolidate your time into worthwhile chunks.220,Link everything you do to the job's results.23/+Stop analysing and DO something to improve.24,(Ask your staff how you waste their time.25`\Let your people know that when your door is closed it means "only interrupt if VERY urgent."26=9As soon as the business is done get rid of your visitors.27)%Handle each piece of paper only once.280,Make more use of standard letters and memos.29hdSend hand written replies on the original (or copy) of the information that prompted you to respond.30)%Send more hand written communication.31!Check up on your people less.3251Learn to accept uncertainty and take a few risks!33($Do not become obsessed with details.34!Always finish what you start.3551Keep a time log to regularly monitor improvement.36Carry your Series 5 with you everywhere yo go (as if you needed reminding!) and make sure you always have an agenda or a good to do list.37($Leave early and take some work home.38a]Whenever you leave the office, let someone know where you are going and how long you will be.39MIUse your secretary more and get her/him to screen possible interruptions.40YUDelegate some reading. Trust people to tell you if there is something you should see.41PLKeep yourself physically fit to be alert and make the best use of your time.42OKMake more use of the phone or e-mail to cut down on making personal visits.43<8Get all the socialising done in coffee/lunch/tea breaks.4451Get a coffee machine and manage with less breaks.45Live nearer the job.46Work longer hours.47C?Avoid people in the workplace who share your outside interests.48;7Learn how to prioritise your tasks for the day or week.49?;Try and develop then use a simple system of time budgeting.5073Share your problems and ideas with your colleagues.51kgUse a telephone answering machine to see who is calling and decide if you want to speak to that person.52QMFind out how new technology and software developments can help you save time.53NJUse tea breaks systematically for communication with staff and colleagues.54kgIdentify tasks that are related, especially those concerning the same people, and tackle them together.55_[To improve self discipline, commit yourself by voluntarily making promises to other people.56GCNegotiate time/quality bargains with people who want your services.5751Take up relaxation, yoga or meditation exercises.58YUDraw up a who can do what matrix of staff abilities as an aid to planning delegation.59Lock the door.60Eat better food.6184Make greater use of informal communication channels.62&"Use a wall chart to plan the year.63`\Practise being more assertive, to answer back people who take advantage of your good nature.64KGAt the start of a meeting always ask what time it is expcted to finish.65miBefore starting a new task remind yourself that you have options - what other tasks could you do instead?6695Set yourself deadlines and treat them as unbreakable.6762For a big job set yourself intermediate deadlines.6862Plan time for domestic, social and personal needs.69ZVStop solving all your subordinates' problems for them - teach them to solve their own.701-Book appointments for meetings with yourself.71okSet aside one hour a day when you do not accept interruptions and make sure your colleagues and staff know.72IERecognise that a task's urgency is nothing to do with its importance.73UQIf you get bored after an hour or two on the same task, switch to something else.74`\Before spending a lot of time on a decision, ask what the cost of getting it wrong could be.75.*Plan time for self-development activities.76{At the end of the day, assess the tasks that you did not get around to doing and re-assign their priority for the next day.77B>The best way to kill time is to get busy and work it to death!7884In 48 hours tomorrow is going to be yesterday.......79P:`.Ar 3 pROM::BJ.WDR%P@TipNo. 0P:`.Ar 3 pROM::BJ.WDR%P@TipNo.