Are you in charge of your own time?Think about what you did last week at work. Were you in control of your time? Or did it seem that your time was being controlled by those around you? Are you pleased with what you achieved, or do you think you could have done more if only you hadn’t been constantly distracted from your main task?
Did you decide what you did and when?
If not, then it is time to get a grip on your timetable.
Start by noting down all those things that you have to do each and every week. Things such as read and answer your mail, attend regular staff meetings, produce a progress or status report. These may be big things or they may be little things, it really doesn’t matter. The important point is that they are regular and repetitive and therefore must be done each and every week.
Chose a time in your weekly calendar to do each one of these jobs and keep these time slots reserved. Reserve them this week, next week, every week. Let you colleagues and your staff know that these times are sacrosanct and resist all attempts to get you to weaken in this resolve.
Clearly you have to be sensible about
times you pick in first place. It is no good picking a time in middle of morning when meetings have traditionally always been arranged, or that you know is only time when certain people are present. And it is unrealistic never ever to be flexible over times you have selected. But once word is out that during certain times you are not available you will find that others do not try to fix meetings at those hours any more, or phone you up during these periods. They will try to fit in with your availability before contacting you. It costs them nothing, and they know that you will be more amenable.
