As suggested, one would start by setting goals that are "critical" for your success in both the professional and personal realm. Once identified, you need to determine the resources you have available and what tasks need to be completed in what order to realistically meet set goals. Personally, I like to set goals and break-down the task that will contribute to the result that I'm shooting for. With that said, the goals would be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-specific (SMART) and the tasks directly supportive of efforts towards meeting objective.
Sharon,
I am glad you found the tools in this course useful.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Prioritizing my time has always been a challenge for me. I am a bit of a procrastinator. I know this is not a desired quality. Therefore, after reading and studying this material I will implement several suggestions. My first step is to become more aware of how I am spending my time. I will map out my scheduled. Also, I would like to learn what messages I am sending myself that causes me to be less productive. I do believe fear plays a huge role in my lack of accomplishing simple task. I need to refocuses my attention and attitude. I need to practice positive self- talk. I really enjoyed this module. Thank you.
Robert,
What factors other than due date do you consider when establishing priorities?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I am an avid list maker. Generally I make a daily list of what i have to do listed in order of importance. If i find that my list is becoming to long I try tospread out the tasks based on what MUST be done today and what can possibly wait until the next day. Ussually this works out well.
The techniques that you suggest are extremely helpful. I find for myself, a good old-fashioned to do list written in my day planner the day before helps me focus my priorities. As other important priorities crop up, there is enough time allotted during the day to tackle any "last minute" tasks that may occur.
Personally, my biggest challenge in being a college director is dealing with student issues.
These are very time consuming and cannot be predicted. Student issues are a priority, but it seems that some days there are just too many to deal with!!!
Jennie,
I am glad you found value in the course material. I found value several years ago when I took this course long before becoming the facilitator.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I feel 100% identified with your challenge because it is exactly what I also have to learn how to be more efficient in keeping my priorities A and B that are crucial and support the critical goals of the company I work for. I also have the bad tendency for be distracted by the need of my students but at the end of the day I feel too tired and resentful that I have worked sometimes more than 12 hours straight and I have zero time for my family.
I have learned so much during this course that I have found my weakness and how to fix it as well as my boss' weakness.
I use a journal to take notes from meetings and then use it as a to-do list when I'm out of the meetings. I'm thinking the Outlook calendar templates would be better to see the day as a schedule with time allotments, and to allow for a time cushion to handle the unknowns.
When prioritizing, I need to keep in mind my company's overall goals and my department's initiatives but not forget my own duties.
Some students may think that this is a bit of a "hard-nosed" policy; however, I can certainly understand how it is an effective policy. I can't tell you how many times my priority "A" work gets jeapordized by getting un-necessarily interrupted by students. I will have to adopt this policy as well. Thank you for the idea :)
Yes. I am in charge of assessment testing at the college where I work and although I really enjoy doing it, many times it exists as an obstacle to my other priorities at work.
To decide between an "A" and a "B," if it is personal time that is being prioritized, then the criteria for selection should be those activities that provide the greatest emotional fulfillment or the ones that support the greatest usefulness to the personal goals made by the individual. If it is work tasks that are being prioritized, identify the tasks that you think should get priority and then go over your prioritized list with your supervisor because this will provide guidance from your supervisor on how to recognize the priorities & keep them in line with the company's overall goals and also invite respect from your supervisor who will be impressed that you are doing this in the 1st place :)
I try to use the A, B anc C whenever possible, but sometimes I find myself "sabotaging" it. I think that what I need to do is get used to it because it really helps.
I prioritize my goals and task by writing down what I need to do and by using a calendar to complete task with deadlines.
Mark,
Are there things on the list that someone else can do?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I typically attempt to use the daily to do lists. The problem that I have been running into lately is that the to do list rarely ever seem to get completed in one day. Distractions and other items tend to take up more of my time. It defintely has become a time management issue.
Marilyn,
I sometimes block a period of time that I will use for catching up. It takes some pressure off.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I think this is a very good time management strategy. When prioritizing tasks for the day it is beneficial to allow additional time if possible. This can be quite helpful in completing both scheduled and non-scheduled tasks.
I have a set shedule for each task. What ever needs to be done asap, will of course be first on my list what ever has time I try to do at the end of my list for the month. But I do like to have no task pending so I try to get them all done in a good and quick matter.
My problem is that I don't...I always seem to get distracted, I feel that my job is NOT clearly defined and that we are scrambling to put out fires on a daily basis......some of these things I can help and others are trickled down from higher management and lack of communication between higher management/understanding goals and understanding the work load and truly understanding what my department is all about.
