You have to make a list and have a secondary list just in case something comes up. In our industry we often have to change our game plan because something wasn't delivered or someone made a mistake and forgot to order something. the students always come first and you have to ready to teach them something in case of a problem should arise.You have to be ready at all times.
Hello Dr. Melissa:
I like the idea of a 5% time buffer. I think I will use it.
Wanda
This is a common problem Susan. Even when we plan out our weeks carefully and schedule time for each task, surprise tasks can be thrown our way often as instructors. My strategy has always been to build a 5% time buffer into my schedule to account for the completion of these tasks.
I have been sitting here in my office pondering this question. Prioritizing tasks is a challenge, especially when one considers the combination of what is required in the workplace and in my personal life. I think my biggest obstacles to completing all of my tasks in a timely manner is time and energy. I work an incredible number of hours, and my full time job is definitely highly stressful. When prioritizing tasks, how do you complete tasks that are thrown at you at the last minute? Unfortunately for me, a great deal of my work tasks are given to me by my supervisor at the last minute. Here is where the stress, and let's face it, the frustration occurs. How do you manage a major task when you have not been given sufficient time to think about it and complete it? I have developed some strategies for this, but it is very difficult, especially when my energy level is low.
ED110 -> Forums -> Forum 1
Re: Task Prioritization
by Dr. Melissa Read - Friday, May 21, 2010
Holly, Many instructors face similar challenges. It is tempting to address tasks that are urgent and set less urgent ones off for a later day. Identifying that you struggle with finding this balance is a good first step.
Thanks Melisa! It becomes more and more important at the end of the year when we deal with our extras (graduation, end of quarter) as well as increased activities for our kids. Prom was last night and I ran straight out (and running late) all day to get my daughter there with everything she needed. We were still almost an hour late due to a problem at the hairdresser! Sometimes you do have to "roll with it"!
Holly,
It is tough to prioritize when you have a caretaker personality. Learning to say no I have found is critical for a successful instructor. At minimum I reschedule the emergency at a time that does not interfere with my six most important things to do list.
Wanda
Holly, Many instructors face similar challenges. It is tempting to address tasks that are urgent and set less urgent ones off for a later day. Identifying that you struggle with finding this balance is a good first step.
I have a tendancy to respond to the urgent rather than the important. I will often give up what I should be doing in order to deal with the squeaky wheel that is beggin to be oiled. In other words I reprioritize based on the precieved or expressed needs of others and often end up doing my own work on my time off. This is something I am working on. I realize it may come from insecurity as I was only recently hired on full time. As an adjunct trying to get a full time job, my strategy was to never say no to a request. Now I do need to prioritize and control my time better. making and revising my to do list is a good habit that I have strayed from recently. As witnessed by the fact that I had completely forgotten about this course
Because of the complexity and increasing volume of the instructors daily requirement its best to create a to do list and number the importance of each task. this helps to prevent the creation of the immediacy scenario and helps guide the instructor through a smooth, even term
I typically do not complete the items I have high on my priority list. I tend to procrastinate. However, I did learn that if I focus more on getting things done in a more timely fashion that I will have more time and even some free time when those tasks come due. I will re-focus and begin to make a prioritization list so that I will reduce procrastination and feel less stressed.
I like the HAVE, SHOULD and COULD approach. Nice!
I place an "A", "B", or "C" to prioritize the daily tasks-a lesson I learned in medical sales regarding those items that HAVE to be done; SHOULD get done; and COULD get done.
It's great to get simple tasks off of your plate - even if they are less of a priority. It can make your to do list feel far less overwhelming.
I usually prioritize tasks based on the status of the requester, but now realize that there are some simple tasks that can be handled almost immediately, and gotton "of my plate". I think organization will assist here as well. I have learned to think of task prioritization in terms of resources, namely being time, in addition to who is asking for it.
I make a to do list and prioritize them according to importance.
I plan my day and weeks out with to-do lists in order to keep track of everything throughout the day. Everything gets prioritize in order of importance.
I continuously change and adjust as needed or time/need direct.
I have to look at both urgency and timeframes. Just because a task is urgent, does not mean that it needs to be done now. There may be other tasks that are urgent or not quite as urgent that need to be completed first. It is key to prioritizing.
Typically when I make a prioritized list I do complete the most urgent things first. This helps me relax and then focus more on the next set of items on the list. This works especially well when I have seen those items before, only lower on the priorty list, then it starts to become a habit.
This is a great point Erica! Sometimes it's easier to just focus on one task at a time.
I definitely have just dropped everything to do the newest most impotant thing, but I have learned that it usually ends up being more work having all of those half finished things to do all at once. Even when I have important things to do, I am trying to wrap up what I'm in the middle of before starting a new project if at all possible. I think that finishing one task at a time is a good idea so that you can stay focused on the subject at hand.
