As career college leaders, our time, challenged by so many competing tasks and responsibilities, is a most valuable resource. Much has been written about time management; perhaps effectively managing our time, and our priorities, comes down to asking a few fundamental questions:

•    Which tasks are the most urgent?
•    Which projects that upon timely completion will yield the most significant results?
•    What activities require resources that are not available at the time?
•    Which tasks that if not completed will affect someone else’s work schedule?
•    What are the financial costs associated with delaying a project?

Additionally, we may get into trouble by taking on an activity or project without knowing what’s really involved. Even if we have no choice in accepting a new assignment, getting as much information as possible will help us coordinate additional tasks with our busy schedules. Here are some good questions, though not an exhaustive list, to ask when given a new task to accomplish:

•    What are the expected results?
•    What is the timeline for completion and is it realistic?
•    Are the resources needed to complete the project identified and available?
•    Is help available when your schedule is stressed? Can you delegate work to others?
•    How will a new project affect the completion of your existing responsibilities?

By asking a few simple questions to help us prioritize our time, perhaps we may become even more efficient and performance-driven in meeting our managerial responsibilities.