Pls tell me something I don't know about time management Part II

Have you ever wondered what is it like being a role one someone you admired, it could be a CEO of a company, President of the united states, top leaders, Artist, writers, professionals, researchers, business owners or anyone else you would most envied about their success. Just what factor contributes to their success today, I trust one of it has got to do with the art of practicing & use of effective time management!

The fact is how these people managed their time so well that they are able to deliver the result that was expected of them based on the sole constraint of 24hours 7 days a week no matter who or what you are.

Recently I pick up some articles from David Allen, productivity consultant who is best known as the creator of the Getting Things Done time management method who amazed me about his adventures into 35 types of profession before reaching age 35. Some of his best practices which I find relevant to me include getting your email volume controlled & organized as well as workflow management. He has also developed a 3 dimensional self management practice which consequently generates four quadrants of states which we may find ourselves in at least one segment;

1. Low control, low perspective = the Victim. Driven by latest and loudest, simply reacting to relieve the most obvious and immediate pressures and pains.
2. High control, low perspective = the Micro Manager. Obsessed with containing and ordering detail, neglecting the Why question and the bigger-picture realities. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is the extreme.
3. Low control, high perspective = the Crazy Maker. Fabulous ideas, by the minute, unrealistically over committing focus and resources. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is the extreme.
4. High control, high perspective = Master and Commander. Keeping the eye on the prize with attention to critical detail, holding steady with a firm but flexible hand.
(An extract from David Allen Three dimensional Self Management)

See which quadrant best describes you today because it will determine how you manage your time.

If you would have follow my last posting on the same subject of time management, maybe you would have already look into your weekly schedule and have in mind what actions you would plan to optimize your time allocation.

Below includes a completed worksheet input into the template I have created earlier based on typical activities of a working professional within my industry. You would noticed that there are things we spend most of our time in life habitually on basic activities beyond our control like rest/sleep, preparing for work, transportation, travelling, meals, dining, stuck in the traffic etc. These itself can take up half your day each day. It means you can only allow adjustment probably the other half of it by putting some effort in applying the following basic principles of time management;

- Planning
- Allocation
- Setting goals
- Delegation
- Analysis of time spend
- organizing
- Scheduling
-& prioritizing


From the worksheet, if my analysis is correct, there is still an opportunity for additional time of 37 hours which is about 44%!! Of the time you can allocate in a week on something else that you would like to do and benefit you more in life. Each individual may have their own technique or tools for time management respectively but with the application of the basic principles above in more detail you may maximize it even for greater results!

The point is some of us will always complain that we are just too busy or occupied with current activities/loading but these excuses can be alleviated with simple magic steps by just analyzing & identifying strategies you may have overlook before. So do not underestimate the power of time management, my tools work for me and I believe you can develop one for yourself too. Plan your strategies now and if possible share with others as well.