15 Questions
According to the quote by Michael Leboeuf, what is the consequence of wasting time?
Losing a part of your life
According to the article, only 50% of managers waste their time.
False
According to Lee Ryan, what is the problem with institutional timewasting?
It's foolish
The article suggests that everyone is productive and focused at work.
False
The article suggests that it's okay to waste time at work because everyone does it.
False
What is recommended to keep, similar to office hours?
E-mail and phone call hours
It's recommended to say yes to all requests from others.
False
Why might someone select their most powerful supervisor to intervene?
To borrow time to do what their boss wants
It's recommended to ignore feelings of frustration in the workplace.
False
What can be a benefit of asking your boss to help you achieve better results?
Achieving better, doable results
What is the common approach many recruitment firms take to find the right candidate for a job?
Gather as many candidates as possible and throw them at as many positions as possible
Taking time to think and plan is a reactive approach to work.
False
What is the recommended approach to manage e-mail and phone calls?
Don't check e-mail and respond to phone calls until after accomplishing one important thing in the morning
A proactive approach to work means being reactive to requests from bosses and colleagues.
False
Wasting time can lead to more effective and quality work.
False
Study Notes
Time Management and Productivity
- 90% of managers waste their time by procrastinating, burying themselves in frenetic busywork, or feeling out of it and disengaged, according to a Harvard Business Review article.
- Only 10% of managers truly apply themselves and focus on efficiency.
- Time is a scarce resource and needs to be managed effectively to accomplish goals.
- Distractions and busywork in the workplace can hinder focus and make it difficult to achieve objectives.
Proactive Approach to Work
- Taking time to think and adopting a proactive "measure twice, cut once" strategy can save time in the long run and improve the quality of work.
- Filtering out time-wasters, such as excessive e-mail checking, is essential to increase productivity.
- Prioritizing tasks based on importance and focusing on the most critical goals can help achieve more in less time.
Action Steps for Improving Productivity
- Set weekly and monthly goals, and accomplish the most important tasks first.
- Identify what needs to be done, stopped, and communicated to others to achieve goals.
- Designate specific times for e-mail and phone calls, and practice saying no to non-essential tasks.
- Identify and address underlying frustrations that may be driving distractions and procrastination.
- Ask for help from supervisors or colleagues to achieve better, doable results.
Reflect on how you spend your time and identify areas for improvement. Do you feel like you're not accomplishing much despite your best intentions? Learn how to optimize your daily routine.
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