Time is a Fleeting ThingWritten by Kathleen J. Wheelihan
Part 1 You’ve heard it before—time favors no one; time is one of great equalizers; and all other truisms that describe this fleeting commodity that we all share. The truth is that although we can’t control passage of time, we can make better use of time we have. We're sharing some tips and tools from our "I Hate Time Management" seminar to help you find ways to better manage use of your time. In this issue, we’ll talk about Focus and Swiss Cheese Technique. Focus While this may sound simple, focus is one of most powerful tools we can use in making best of our time, achieving goals, or creating greater balance in our lives. What methods or systems have you put in place to create focus on things that are important to you? Writing down your goals, creating a personal mission statement and values, a planner, to do lists, computer software, bulletin boards, sticky notes? All these methods can help you create focus you need. The key is to know what works for you and what derails you from focusing on what’s important. Remember, we achieve those things on which we focus! Swiss Cheese Technique By "poking holes" in a large task, you can accomplish an activity by using little bits of time instead of waiting for one large block of time. Whether writing a report, planning a vacation, or completing a home improvement project, breaking job down into smaller pieces not only helps organize project and proactively prepare for different phases, it also allows for completion in smaller segments. This technique reminds us of value of any amount of time, no matter how small. Part 2 This article is part two of our series, in which we’re sharing tips and tools from our from our "I Hate Time Management" seminar. In this issue, we’ll address procrastination, which many of our seminar participants identify as their greatest time management challenge. You know what needs to be done; you just don’t do it! Miraculously, you’d rather clean house, wash car, take out garbage, or walk dog—anything to avoid tackling that "other" task that’s waiting for you. It’s a common tale, but too often procrastination leaves us running to catch up, working under pressure, and stalled from accomplishing results we want.
| | Speed as a TrendWritten by Harry K. Jones
Observing and reacting to trends makes difference between success and failure in today's marketplace. Technology is shrinking time and space, giving customers more choices and businesses more competition with less time to respond. Thus, speed is an emerging trend that impacts business in a number of ways.In today's turbulent business world, most profitable businesses are those that anticipate and react quickest to customers' needs. Success means moving more quickly than ever before. It doesn't mean pushing yourself to work at an overstressed, breakneck pace. It does mean taking a whole new focus and approach to working, selling, managing and leading to speed up business. Researchers and consultants are talking to businesses to find what does and doesn't work in an era of accelerating change. Whether it's GE or Motorola in manufacturing, Wal-Mart or Home Depot in retailing, or Southwest Airlines in service sector, thriving businesses are practicing some common key essentials. * Focus on customer. Ask, listen, and respond. * Align with future. Benchmark and prepare. * Be an innovator. In an era of rapid change, improvement through innovation is king. * Do it with quality. It lowers costs, increases speed, builds pride, and improves customer loyalty.
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