Table of Contents Time Management for New Employees Credits About the Author About the Reviewers Preface Behavior and change A brief history of time management Indirection and control How to use this book What this book covers Who this book is for Conventions Reader feedback Customer support Errata Piracy Questions 1. What is Time Management? The limited view and the big picture Signs and results of poor time management Benefits of time management A definition of time management Activity management Event control Dividing the pies Exercise Discussion and illustration Summary 2. Setting Goals Values Value system Benefit Exercise Goals Benefit SMART goals Benefits of having SMART goals Exercise Action plans Short-term objectives Daily activities Exercise Summary 3. Task Management Activity lists The to-do list Exercises Prioritization The A-1 method Importance and urgency Exercises Filtering tasks The 4 Ds The Pareto Principle Exercises Task dependencies Exercise Summary 4. Schedule Management Definitions Exercise Handling appointments Maintaining appointments Preparing for an appointment The appointment Follow-up Exercise Meetings Agenda Agenda item resolution Meeting minutes Exercises Summary 5. Managing Daily Tasks Managing expectations Unrealistic expectations Dealing with expectations efficiently Exercise Estimation Creating a realistic daily tasks list Exercise Summary 6. Deadline Management Parkinson's Law Murphy's Law Student's Syndrome Strategies Strategy 1 – Frontend load Strategy 2 – Artificial deadlines Strategy 3 – Failure management Summary 7. Overcoming Obstacles to Productivity Obstacles Internal obstacles Professional obstacles Emotion Thought issues Action issues Preparation Crisis management Interruption management Self-discipline Taking responsibility Deliberate distractions Exercises Summary 8. Measuring Your Time Management Skills Why measure? What should be measured? Collecting metrics Using the metrics How to be more productive How to be more effective How to be more efficient How to be more punctual How to be more dependable How to improve quality Summary 9. Tools Tasks The process for managing tasks Appointments and meetings Paper products Day-Timer Franklin Covey planner Technology Outlook calendar Google calendar The process for managing appointments Deadlines The process for managing deadlines Summary Time Management for New Employees Time Management for New Employees Copyright © 2015 Impackt Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews. Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Impackt Publishing, and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book. Impackt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Impackt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information. First published: April 2015 Production reference: 1270415 Published by Impackt Publishing Ltd. Livery Place 35 Livery Street Birmingham B3 2PB, UK. ISBN 978-1-78300-052-4 www.Impacktpub.com Credits Author Prakash V. Rao Reviewers Aung Ko Ko Keshav Kumar Acquisition Editor Richard Gall Content Development Editor Sweny Sukumaran Copy Editor Sharvari H. Baet Project Coordinators Priyanka Goel Rashi Khivansara Proofreaders Simran Bhogal Maria Gould Paul Hindle Graphics Sheetal Aute Disha Haria Abhinash Sahu Skanda Rao Production Coordinator Melwyn D'sa Cover Work Simon Cardew About the Author Prakash V. Rao is trained in computer engineering and management with master's degrees in both fields. With about 30 years of experience in the corporate world, he has risen from the cubicle trenches through the ranks of management up to director and vice-president for two multi- billion-dollar corporations before starting his management consulting practice. As a consultant, Prakash focuses on the areas of management tactics and productivity, and towards this latter end, he has developed several techniques to improve effectiveness, efficiency, and time management. He is now a recognized expert in the area of time