Tackling “time robbers”

Leadership in Management Tackling “time robbers”

Tackling ‘time robbers’

Sfe time robbers from Arif Mahmood

A time robber is something that prevents us from completing more important and productive tasks. Time robbers are activities that absorb lots of time without producing equivalent benefit for the efforts employed. Interruptions, lengthy meetings and routine tasks (that could be delegated) are some of the most common time robbers we have to face. To control time robbers we need to employ techniques such as avoiding the activity, shortening the time we spend on it, or simply eliminating it altogether. The following is a list of classic time robbers. Review the list and highlight those you have difficulty with.

	Big problem for me	Often a problem	Seldom a problem
Planning and organizing 1 Not setting SMART objectives
2 Failing to plan my time on a daily basis
3 Unclear or changing priorities
4 Leaving tasks unfinished
5 Crisis Management – too much ‘fire fighting’
6 Poor self-discipline
7 Over-stretching myself – setting unrealistic targets
8 Lack of organization/untidy desk – too much paperwork
9 Lack of clear responsibility and authority
10 Too many people reporting to me or that I have to report to
11 Taking on too much myself
12 Getting too involved in routine detail that I don’t need to
13 Not delegating enough to my team
14 Lacking the motivation to do anything about it
15 Inability to say ‘no’ to others
16 Not coping with change
17 Too many telephone interruptions
18 Casual visitors who interupt me

	Big problem for me	Often a problem	Seldom a problem
Planning and organizing 19 My self-discipline
20 Getting swamped by e-mail
21 Making mistakes that lead to work
22 Failing to maintain standards, progress reports
23 Incomplete information
Communicating 24 Effectively stating my objectives at meetings
25 Under/unclear/ over-communicating
26 Failing to listen properly
27 Socializing too frequently
Decision-making 28 Snap decision-making
29 Indecision/delaying matters too much
30 Decision by committee
31 Perfectionist tendencies

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Leadership in Management

Tackling “time robbers”

Tackling ‘time robbers’