5 Tips to Optimize a Manager's Time
17 April 2012
Read by 1921 persons
Among the biggest challenges for managers, lack of availability is undoubtedly the most obvious. Indeed, especially in SMEs, the manager often conditions their responsibility on being present and active on all fronts. They quickly find themselves overwhelmed by the number of tasks they must perform or manage.
Managers, stay motivated despite the difficulties!
A manager's lack of time is a worrying factor for the company because they should have time for reflection to develop a high-performing and sustainable strategy. A manager's time is therefore one of the fundamental components of a company's success; here are 5 tips to optimize it.
Reflect the strategy in the agenda's priorities
How a manager allocates their time shows their employees their true priorities and what they consider strategic. Therefore, organizing their schedule is practically a matter of internal communication. The schedule shouldn't be rigid but evolve according to the progress of strategic activities. A manager should always refer to their strategic plan to avoid getting sidetracked.
Delegate and set up team meetings
It's important for a manager to know how to ask for help when they can't manage alone or to delegate tasks that don't require their involvement, even if they are important for the company. A good manager must learn to "get things done" and therefore to relinquish some control over the company, to accept involving others and to trust them. In parallel, to monitor everyone's progress without wasting time in one-on-one meetings, the manager should set up a weekly team meeting with all their functional managers.
Plan tasks
The manager must be able to plan their tasks, which are generally of two types: important and strategic activities and daily activities, sometimes urgent. It is therefore necessary to prioritize tasks according to their priority, for example, by crossing their degree of urgency with their degree of importance and establishing a to-do list each week, or even each day, to keep track of everything.
Know how to use new technologies
Synchronizing their phone and emails will save the manager time by processing certain emails or planning their schedule during commutes, for example. Furthermore, using online teleconferencing platforms allows for the organization of virtual meetings, which are particularly beneficial in terms of time saving.
Define uninterrupted periods of time
However, to be efficient, it's essential for the manager to schedule work sequences without interruptions for optimal concentration. Between the pressure from employees and that of multiple and instant means of communication, the manager must force themselves to have completely quiet periods of reflection by turning off their mobile phone and accepting being unavailable to their teams (ideally one hour per day).
Dynamique-mag.com
Posted online April 17, 2012.
Managers, stay motivated despite the difficulties!
A manager's lack of time is a worrying factor for the company because they should have time for reflection to develop a high-performing and sustainable strategy. A manager's time is therefore one of the fundamental components of a company's success; here are 5 tips to optimize it.
Reflect the strategy in the agenda's priorities
How a manager allocates their time shows their employees their true priorities and what they consider strategic. Therefore, organizing their schedule is practically a matter of internal communication. The schedule shouldn't be rigid but evolve according to the progress of strategic activities. A manager should always refer to their strategic plan to avoid getting sidetracked.
Delegate and set up team meetings
It's important for a manager to know how to ask for help when they can't manage alone or to delegate tasks that don't require their involvement, even if they are important for the company. A good manager must learn to "get things done" and therefore to relinquish some control over the company, to accept involving others and to trust them. In parallel, to monitor everyone's progress without wasting time in one-on-one meetings, the manager should set up a weekly team meeting with all their functional managers.
Plan tasks
The manager must be able to plan their tasks, which are generally of two types: important and strategic activities and daily activities, sometimes urgent. It is therefore necessary to prioritize tasks according to their priority, for example, by crossing their degree of urgency with their degree of importance and establishing a to-do list each week, or even each day, to keep track of everything.
Know how to use new technologies
Synchronizing their phone and emails will save the manager time by processing certain emails or planning their schedule during commutes, for example. Furthermore, using online teleconferencing platforms allows for the organization of virtual meetings, which are particularly beneficial in terms of time saving.
Define uninterrupted periods of time
However, to be efficient, it's essential for the manager to schedule work sequences without interruptions for optimal concentration. Between the pressure from employees and that of multiple and instant means of communication, the manager must force themselves to have completely quiet periods of reflection by turning off their mobile phone and accepting being unavailable to their teams (ideally one hour per day).
Dynamique-mag.com
Posted online April 17, 2012.
