Listed below are some common timewasters. As we think about the new year and what we want to accomplish, how we invest our time will determine, to a large degree, the outcome of our efforts. Check the timewasters that you’d like to work on and set a goal to improve one of them a month. At the end of 2006, you will have made significant progress on eliminating 12 timewasters. Good luck.
- □ Attempting too much
- □ Procrastination; delaying distasteful tasks
- □ Indecision
- □ Unclear communication
- □ Perfectionism; too much attention to detail
- □ Preoccupation with problems
- □ Not actively listening
- □ Excessive socializing
- □ Lack of, or ineffective, delegation
- □ Constant checking on employees
- □ Inability to say “no”
- □ Unnecessary or unproductive meetings
- □ Allowing constant interruptions by others
- □ Insisting on knowing all and seeing all
- □ Assistant not aware of changes in schedule
- □ Allowing upward delegation
- □ Doing other people’s work
- □ Not effectively training staff
- □ Firefighting (80% of “Crisis Management” events are preventable)
- □ Insufficient planning, scheduling, or organizing
- □ Relying on mental notes
- □ Not effectively utilizing waiting time and travel time
- □ Inefficient office layout
- □ Facts, phone numbers, and other vital information not at hand
- □ No daily plan
- □ No self-imposed deadlines
- □ No follow-up system
- □ Lack of procedures
- □ Not using prime time for priority items
- □ Spending time on low-priority items
- □ Lack of written goals or poorly defined goals
- □ Not enough “Quiet Time”
- □ __________________________
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