Time management
... Aim Of Assignment The purpose of this report is to investigate the topic of Time Management and examine how I spend my time. I will then evaluate my findings against the Classical management theories in order to assess how reality fares against theory. I will examine how I have managed my time during the week that I kept a time log and evaluate how I can improve my time management skills and thereby increase my productivity within the business that I work. ... Methodology The first step in my evaluation of how I managed my time was to understand what Classical theorists thought managers did with their time. How was I supposed to be spending my time? According to Henri Fayol, managers spend their time ‘planning, organising, commanding, co-ordinating and controlling the function properly’ (1). Was this actually how I spent my time? The next step was to set myself three SMART objectives that I was to achieve in a set time period of one week. In order for the objectives to be considered as SMART objectives they had to be specific, attainable, realistic, and time related (2). During the week I would keep a time log of my activities which I would then be able to reflect on to analyse whether I had achieved my objective and how I had behaved in order to manage my time. ... Then the next step was to choose the time management techniques that I was going to try to use in order to achieve the objectives. The time management techniques that I chose to use in order to achieve my objectives where as follows: At the moment I do not use a ‘to do’ system and tend to keep the list in my head, however, colleagues have told me that making lists enables them to better prioritise their days. ... With this in mind I have decided to aim to have one hour per day of uninterrupted time when I will not take calls or be interrupted unless it is an emergency. My final time management technique was to do the tasks I like least first, I have a terrible habit of procrastinating about tasks that I don’t like and then they hang over me, and are constantly on my mind until completed therefore, I feel that by making them my first task of the day I will be free to then spend time on the things that I do like doing. ... These were as outlined in Chart 1 below: Chart 1 SMART OBJECTIVES Specific Objective Measurable Achievable Realistic/Relevant Time-Related Completion of the review of the new Contracts of Employment and Company Handbook Read and make notes of amendments needed.