We can all agree that there are not enough hours in the day and often wonder how the day gets by without being able to accomplishing more.
Time management is a skill that is difficult to master but can be done with a little planning, focus and sometimes technology can help.
As church leaders and employees we know that our salary is paid through the tithes of others – making it even more important to manage the precious time that we have.
This can be particularly challenging because of the unique nature of a church and the unexpected member crisis that need to be dealt with.
Taking the time to learn some time management secrets can help keep the organization focused on achieving its mission and strategy – and get more done!
8 Time Management Tips
1. Know What Needs to Be Done
The challenge a lot of people have is not knowing what is expected of them and what they are trying to accomplish.
This results in performing tasks that may or may not be helping them achieve what is most important for the success of the organization.
Every organization should have a strategic plan that results in goals targeted at achieving that strategy.
Employees should have goals that support strategy and out of those goals should come their job description and a task list of what needs to be done.
2. Prioritize What Needs to be Done
Employee goals should then be incorporated into an employee’s daily task list that is prioritized by identifying those one or two things that are the most important to get done.
Constantly ask yourself, “what is the most important thing that I can do today to get me closer to accomplishing my goals?”
3. Do the Most Difficult Task First
Most of us are guilty of avoiding those challenging tasks that require difficult or unpleasant steps. Identify those tasks and do them first.
If you are a morning person, tackle that difficult tasks when you are alert and fresh.
You will find that all other tasks go much quicker and easier.
4. Stop Multitasking
Some people think multi-tasking is a great skill to have, but too much multi-tasking can have a significant impact on productivity and work quality.
Target the most important task and focus on that one thing until it is accomplished.
Close all programs on your computer with the exception of the one you are using to complete your most important task.
5. Identify and Eliminate Time Wasters
Time wasters are those things that you don’t plan to do but consume so much of your time.
Things like reading emails, text messages, Facebook, reading blogs, hallway chatting, research rabbit trails – to name a few.
Make your own list of things that rob your time. Once you identify them, commit to eliminating them while you are working on prioritized tasks.
I heard someone say this, “your email is not your to do list!”
Once I got that revelation, it changed how I managed my barrage of daily emails!
6. Schedule Time for Time Wasters
Be realistic and schedule time for those time wasting habits.
Very similar to budgeting money, you should budget time to do those things that make you feel good.
Things like like checking out what the new baby is doing on Facebook or reading those joke emails should be scheduled for certain times during the day and not during your productive time.
This requires a bit a discipline but if you can master it you will find out how much more you are able to accomplish.
Don’t even open those pages on your computer while you are trying to accomplish other tasks.
7. Identify Those Things You Need To Stop Doing
We all do things that might have been important at one time but may no longer add value or help achieve goals.
It is important to constantly be evaluating what needs to be done and thinking about why it needs to be done.
If it doesn’t support the overall strategy and mission of the organization, stop doing it and spend time doing those things that do.
8. Time Your Tasks
I have found when I determine to complete a task in a certain period of time, I can usually get it accomplished in that time. This isn’t always the case but very often it is.
Set a timer and determine to get XYZ accomplished within 20 or 30 minutes. You might be surprised at how much you can accomplish when you focus!
There will never be enough hours in the day but if we are diligent, strategic and focused we can accomplish more by being smarter with the limited time we have.
What are your secrets to time management?
