This week in pm-clinic: managing our time
This week in the pm-clinic discussion forum– Managing our time:
Dear pm-clinic:
I’m a recovering Getting Things Done (GTD) addict. I tried the popular book/method/cult/flagellation by Dave Allen for awhile, but I’m not the kind of person capable of the religious type A behavior much of the system demanded. So I’m in need of something else before my team figures out how disorganized I am.
I’m hoping to learn timeworn tips and personal tactics people on the list have used to stay on top of their own hours and days (rather than their project’s).
How do you organize your own time against multiple projects? What tools (software or otherwise) are your favorites and how do you make use of them? What tricks have you learned over the years that have made a difference? What approaches do you recommend for people who work for you?
– Mr. Embarrassingly disorganized
Scott,
I spent 31 years in SBC and was trained in Time Management, sent through TM Train-the-Trainer, but never got to train it before I was placed over projects and placed into classes on Project Management.
Depending on where you have to spend your time is what software or tools you will need to manage your time. If you are on the internet like I am for about 9 hours a day during the winter, and two hours during the rest of the year when I am on the golf course doing research, I highly recommend speak recognition software. I use it in my book writing and emails and sometimes at the same time, like am right now.
IF you are out in the field conducting meetings or whatever, and you don’t want to be disturbed there are some great wireless devises out, that I am sure you are aware of and probably have, which I the next few months are going to be even more powerful with the new software that is coming out.
As far as office work and so forth, or being interrupted by others, my solution was to build an office at home and sell my boss on how much I would save his budget by being at home. That may or may not work, depending on the business.
But, let me know if there is anything specific you need help with. I do not consult professionally on TM, but I have plenty of experience to pass around for FREE. And instead of what you get from most people for FREE, I put the meat on the bone… Hope to hear from you soon, and welcome to BizNik.