Time management is a crucial factor in work and our time management courses are created to ensure that delegates can make their time keeping as efficient and effective as possible. We do this by supplying a time management training course that is full of tools and tips for improving time management, time planning, delegation, organisation and management strategies as well as handling and using time effectively. Our time management course will cover subjects such as goal setting, improving organisation skills and managing time successfully.

Time Management using Microsoft Outlook 2003 and Microsoft Outlook 2007 is another of our training seminars that allows delegates to be able to use all aspects of Outlook such as; managing emails, using the calendar, delegation using Tasks and is packed with tips and techniques for mastering Outlook.

Time Management, Time management working with Microsoft Outlook, Project management for non-project managers, Assertiveness, Management Skills and Stress Management are some of the courses trained by Total Success in London and throughout the UK. We have over 18 years experience training people on strategies to improve productivity and enhance self development. Click on the link if you require further information on our training courses or if you wish to contact Total Success via e-mail. We will be delighted to discuss your needs and provide practical answers. The following time management techniques and strategies are designed to help you manage your time and gain greater control of your life.

General Tips and Techniques

• Clear your desk and plan your activities for the next day.

• First list your ‘time specific items, e.g. meetings and then write down the tasks you have to complete.

• Once you have prioritised your tasks, make a ‘to do’ list and work through the items in priority order.

• Ensure that you have given yourself sufficient time to complete your ‘to do’ list, taking into account your daily interruptions.

• Do difficult jobs first, when you are at your best. Look after minor jobs when you are tired.

• Fix deadlines for all jobs and stick to them. A task should only take the time set aside for it.

• Do not postpone important matters that are unpleasant. Jobs rarely get more pleasant by being postponed. Do it now!

• Try to arrange set times for jobs such as going through the mail, talking with your manager or staff, computer input, etc.

• Try to fix definite times when you would not like to be disturbed, and make the system work except for genuine emergencies.

• Plan your telephone calls. Make a brief note of what you want to say and what you want to find out. It saves time later.

• If you have several phone calls to make, do them all in a burst.

• When you start a piece of work, try to finish it without interruptions. If you have to finish it later, you will lose time picking up where you left off.

• Arrange your breaks at times when you cannot work effectively.

• Plan some time for discussing routine matters with your colleagues. Then you avoid interrupting each other all the time.

• Learn to say ‘No’. Get used to asking yourself ‘Am I the right person for this job?’

• Monitor how you use your time, and make conscious changes to your behaviour.

• Stress and fatigue are rarely caused by the things you have done, but by the thought of what you haven’t done!

• Make a habit of finishing the main job of the day before you go home.

CLEAR YOUR DESK!

• 'Paper talk' alone can cost you an hour a day in looking for things and constant distractions.

• Many people have developed the habit of their office becoming a giant 'to-do' list; papers; ‘some day’ stacks; files; letters; in-trays; phone messages, etc. lying around all screaming ‘LOOK AT ME', ‘DEAL WITH ME’. Here are some useful hints for silencing the 'paper talk'.

• Put any in/out trays in a drawer or behind you on a credenza (or even outside your office) but not on your desk.

• Make it a real IN-tray, not a miscellaneous file.

EFFECTIVE USE OF THE MASTER FILES

• Discard all non relevant documents (up to 85% of the documents retained by an organisation will never be looked at again).

• Remove all items from desk (each piece of paper on your desk will distract your attention 5 times a day).

• Reorganise your shelves; give preference to cupboard and shelves rather than filing cabinets (25% space saving).

• Identify, reorganise and re-label all your files clearly.

• Avoid fat files by all means; you ale better off sub-dividing subjects and grouping these sub-files into a large filing box.

• Use colour coding facilities (e.g. red/marketing, green/customers, etc)

PHONECALLS

• Never hold on. Instead agree a time to ring back or leave a message and your phone number.

• If someone is unavailable find out the best time to call back, or leave your number.

• If you need to make regular calls agree upon a mutually beneficial time.

• Learn to leave clear messages on other people's answerphones. Always leave your name and phone number if you want them to ring you back.

INCOMING CALLS CHECKLIST

• If possible train your PA or a member of your staff to screen calls and refer them to others.

• Let the caller know your time constraints.

• Always keep a pen and pad by the phone.

• If you get a call asking for information you don't have immediately to hand, don't look for it: arrange to call back later.

INTERRUPTIONS CHECKLIST

If you have an unexpected visitor:

• Establish at the start why they have come to see you.

• Stand when they enter the room, so that they also remain standing.

• If it's necessary for you to deal personally with them suggest a later meeting, at your convenience.

• Whenever possible, suggest a meeting in their office.

• Set time limits to your discussion.

• Avoid engaging in small talk.

• If you have a secretary/PA, agree a clear policy about who can have access to you and who they should deal with.

• If you really can't get them out of your office, leave the office yourself.

We believe the web is a fantastic place for marketing and promotion but we believe that there should be access to free information which is in abundance on many sites. Total Success have searched the web for free information on time management and you can find these on our time management links page. If you have more sites which contain relevant information or to inform me that a particular site does no longer exist (many sites come and go at a fast rate on the web), please e-mail us. The criteria for inclusion is a site which has a lot of free information on time management and not companies promoting time management courses or products.

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