Time management

Time management is defined as the coordination of tasks and activities in order to maximise an individual’s effectiveness. Time management includes organisation, planning, as well as scheduling in order to take advantage of time. The ability to effectively manage one’s time, allows an individual to make the most of their time. (Lutkevich 2023.) The process of planning and controlling how much time is spent on specific activities is time management. When an individual has good time management they are able to achieve and complete more in shorter periods of time which lowers stress and can lead to success within careers. (Wale 2023.)

Within business, time management can aid employees in delivering work of good quality and being able to meet their goals in an effective manner. In addition to this, it is also an effective help to managers by being able to understand their employees capabilities and through this setting realistic goals. If an employee has poor time management skills, this can result in missing goals and the deliverance of poor work. Poor time management causes anxiety, stress and the feeling of running short of time. (Lutkevich 2023.)

Benefits of time management

Effective time management is beneficial to a business and the employees as it results in happier employees due to having enough time for work to be done reducing likelihood of burnout. Alongside this creativity is improved as there is more time to be creative with work as opposed to worrying about issues with time. Productivity increases and alongside this the reputation of the business enhances. When an employee has effective time management they are less likely to experience burnout which ultimately lowers the amount of employees absent due to illness or burnout. From this employees are able to have better experiences at work and are less likely to leave which reduces the turnover within the company. (Lutkevich 2023.) Good time management can result in an improvement in efficiency and productivity as well as less stress and an increase in success. By effectively managing one’s time, there is more time to spend on enjoying hobbies or personal pursuits. Effective time management also allows for the realisation of goals and objectives as well as providing the ability to achieve them in a shorter span of time. (Wale 2023.)

Internal and external barriers 

When observing time management there are internal and external barriers. Internal barriers can be controlled by the individuals and this consists of elements like; lack of self control, procrastination, lack of motivation, anxiety, people pleasing, and multitasking. Internal factors are related to the habits, behaviours and actions of an individual. The behavioural patterns could be either unconscious or ingrained into the individual however they have the power of the ability to moderate their behaviours. In regards to external barriers, they come as a result of issues outside the individual and elements of this could include; an individual’s workload, job constraints, lack of corporate resources, and distractions such as family emergencies. These external barriers are not within the control of the individual and come from the outside environments, however the manner of which they react is up to the individual. (Lutkevich 2023.)

Implications of poor time management

Poor management can be displayed through numerous ways. It can be evident through poor workflow where an individual is incapable of planning ahead and sticking to goals which results in poor efficiency and productivity. An implication of poor time management is time being wasted by not actually completing the tasks. Another implication is the loss of control where the lack of knowledge on the upcoming tasks increases the lack of control over one’s life which ultimately contributes to stress levels and anxiety. Due to poor time management, the quality of an individual’s work may suffer while having to rush tasks. When tasks cannot be completed in a timely manner, employers and clients can no longer trust or rely on the individual and their expectations and perception has been adversely affected. (Wale 2023.)

Improving time management

Time management can be improved through various methods and tips. A good method of improving time management can be by keeping a journal of the activities that will occur during the week in order to be able to assess times that suit being more productive. Making to do lists of measurable goals and the methods that will be used to achieve them is an effective strategy to keeping organised and managing time. These tasks can also be organised by priority level to ensure the most important tasks are being completed. It is also important to manage your workload by observing and assessing your current workload and not agreeing to more work if you cannot meet the demands. (Lutkevich 2023.) It is good to set SMART goals which are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely. When completing tasks it is effective to set time constraints to improve focus and efficiency. When completing tasks it can also be beneficial to take breaks in between to refresh focus. (Wale 2023.)

Sources

Lutkevich, B. 2023. Time management. Updated in February 2023. Read on 11.3.2023. https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/time-management 

Wale, H. 2023. Time management. Updated on 4.3.2023. Read on 11.3.2023. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/management/time-management-list-tips/