In the world of performance development there are a number of models that have been developed to help manage your time more effectively. To help you short cut this a little below is a round up of the Top 5 models for prioritising tasks and effectively managing your time.
Top 5 Time Management Frameworks
Model 1 - The Power of Selection from Steven Covey's 7 habits of Highly Effective People
The model works on identifying the importance and urgency of a task and using this to prioritise it and to determine the action you should take. The aim is to run all task through this so you can make sure you are only spending time on those tasks which are both Important and Urgent first.
Important but not urgent - Defer this and do it later. Block out some time to get this done in your calendar and set a deadline to stay on track.
Important and Urgent - this is one to jump on and get done. If it needs to leapfrog other tasks you have ahead of it. Again set out time and look at the other tasks and see where you can change their priority.
Not Important but Urgent - this is where you look to delegate to someone else. Maybe another member of your team, maybe a 3rd party outsourced solution. Here you can gain back some time.
Not Important and Not Urgent - then ask yourself why is it even a task I am bothered with.
This is a very simple framework that helps leaders and individuals ensure their time is being as productive as possible. This is one I use the most and i have seen my clients adopt most effectively as a quick solution to an over crowded task list.
Model 2 - The Power of Intention: Taking control of your day
This model is all about being in control. Setting intentions each day for what you will and won’t get done. It's a 5 step process to take each task through that enables you to preempt any challenges and to visualise the actions you need to take so you become more motivated to complete it.
The 5 step process:
Aim - What does success look like
Attitude - what are your concerns about this task?How will you manage obstacles
Attention - what do you need to focus on
Most important thing - what MUST get done, can you do it first?
Wrapping Up - setting a deadline and scheduling it.
Model 3: The Pomodoro Technique
Pomodoro Technique Originally developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s, it gets its name from the old-fashioned kitchen timers that were named after the Italian word for ‘tomato' and shaped as such.after the Italian word for ‘tomato' and shaped as such.
The philosophy behind the Pomodoro Technique is that you are more productive if you work in short bursts of time.
The standardised Pomodoro method involves working for 25 minute periods. At the end of these 25 minutes, you give yourself a five-minute break
After completing four cycles of 25-minute Pomodoros, you are then allowed a 15-minute break to give yourself a rest after what will hopefully have been two hours of productive work. You can change these time intervals to suit your working conditions by simply adjusting the timer you use.
Model 4 - Theme Days
Some of the most successful people work to a Theme days model.We’ve all heard of time blocking but this takes it a bit further. With this model you timebox your way to a jam-packed schedule, by dividing not only your day, but your whole week to maximize productivity.
Instead of jumping from task to task on any given day, try grouping all the similar ones together and park them on a specific day. By putting similar tasks together on the same day, you’ll stay in that “zone” longer, focusing only on what needs to be done in it. If all the things you have to do have something in common, you’ll stay focused on the central theme of the day’s work as you move from task to task.
For many of us Friday afternoon is a low opportunity time so use this by making it time for reflecting and completing slower pace work.
Model 5 - The Pickle Jar
This model shows us that if we want to fit all of our tasks into a given amount of time, we need to start with the large tasks that are urgent and important.
They might be the most difficult, but without completing them you’ll never have enough time to get everything else done. Eat that frog!
If you would like more support and to chat about how you can make positive change in your life to achieve the success you desire Book a Free Discovery Call today
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