Reviewing how they spent their time in the past weeks and separating urgent matters from the important ones is the usual approach of workers trying to deploy some kind of better time management. However, real life at the office, brings many emergencies, unexpected calls and pointless meetings. So what is the reality of time management? Can it really help you to become a more effective worker?
We often fall back into our old rhythms and our effectiveness remains the same after every time management workshop. We continue to do what our superior wants us to, with our personal productivity depending mainly on his requirements and needs, claims leadershipnow.com.
To have more time, your boss must be successful
When your boss is not successful, it usually sheds a negative light on his team as a whole. It sheds a negative light on you. That is why you need to examine all the needs of your boss. Then figure out what you can do to meet his goals and help him to get his work done.
The explicit needs are easy to spot. Strategic plans are full of them and they are clearly stated by both the company and your boss. “We need to expand our business, we need to prepare a new product line, we need to start selling on our website…” These goals and needs are pretty straightforward. Implicit needs are more subtle and sometimes you must guess what they are. For example, your boss may need to look good and competent in front of a manager one level higher, this need usually is not discussed.
Boosting productivity by asking
Ask your boss what are the most important activities that he needs you to do. What is the contribution he is expecting from you and in which area? Listen to his or her answers carefully. It is your guide. You can plan your activities better and you will know what to focus on. You need to manage the expectations of your superiors. Align what you think you should be doing and what your bosses need and want. You need to be on the same track and coordinate with each other while working on your joint priorities.
-jk-