Successful time management : how to be organized, productive and get things done

Halftitle Page
Creating Success Series
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Preface
	A sound foundation
	Discipline, discipline!
01 Time, a key resource: opportunities and difficulties
	Making it work
	A personal approach
	The productivity gain
	Speculate to accumulate
	Perfect time
02 First steps towards effective time management
	Your work mix
	Assessing your current working practice
	Plan the work and work the plan
	What kind of system?
	Setting clear objectives
	Thinking ahead
	Spend time to save time
	Taking time to think
	Be prepared to say ‘no’
	To be, or not to be (perfect)
	Work smarter not longer
	Reward yourself
	Maintaining good intentions
03 Getting (and staying) organized
	Work the plan
	A work/home working pattern
	Batch your tasks
	Use your diary effectively
	Schedule appointments with care
	Clear your desk
	Avoid ‘cherry picking’
	The internet
	Highlight key facts
	Insist on quality
	Action or investment
	Working with a secretary or PA
	Use a ‘document parking’ system
	Make use of checklists
	Directing the techniques at particular result areas
	Intermission… take a break
04 Combating the time wasters
	The greatest time waster?
	Why uncomfortable is good
	When performance is inadequate
	Recognizing reality
	Identifying opportunities
	Handling personal interruptions
	Handling telephone interruptions
	Save time getting through
	Make messages accurate
	Email
	On the move
05 Emails: shortcut or time black hole?
	Email versus snail mail
	Email: possible disadvantages
	Basic guidelines
	Systematic sorting
	Digital signatures and other security devices
	Jargon and acronyms
	Attachments
	Hyperlinks
	Potential problems
06 First things first
	Pareto’s law
	Make the miscellaneous a priority
	Schedule – backwards
	Be honest about deadlines
	Review task methodology
	Eliminate the unnecessary
	Danger – keep your distance
	Be confident of your priorities
07 Controlling the paperwork
	Aim to minimize paperwork
	Make a habit of brevity
	Minimize your paper handling
	Do not let files and filing waste time
	Keep papers neat
	Computerize it – but carefully
	Do not duplicate information unnecessarily
	Do not proliferate information unnecessarily
	Do not put it in writing
	Write faster
	WPB – the most time-saving object in your office
08 Working with other people
	The socializing organization
	Informal contact
	Making a working lunch work
	Consider a day out
	No conflict – no wasted time
	The right people
	The need for clear instructions
	Don’t do it – delegate
	Swap tasks to save time
	Develop your people
	Simply the most time-saving phrase in the language
	Do not hover
	Motivate your people
	Provide specific time management help for staff
	Make and keep some firm rules
	Meetings – danger or opportunity?
09 Final words
	Is it worthwhile?
	A final, final word
All the books in the Creating Success Series