The average interruption
takes 5 minutes and the average person gets 1 interruption every 8 minutes -
coming close to 4 hours of the average workday. 80% of those
interruptions are typically rated as having little or no value which creates
almost 3 hours of wasted time per day.
"Often problems associated with time management
are clear, however if it is not obvious who or what is abusing or helping
with time, keeping a time log is one way to have written verification.
Written verification offers not only what the problem is, but also a
talking point on the issue so that finding a solution is more likely."
-excerpt from book T.A.P.P.
Steps
in Time Managementby Shirley
Fine Lee.
A daily time log should be kept for a week to
get good data for discussion. The time log should include the start
and stop time of the interruption, the reason for or activity during the
interruption, and who caused the interruption (including personal
procrastination items).
If
your team or work group is having problems with time management, consider
taking a time management evaluation individually and then using it as a
group disucssion activity. Discuss where help may be needed as individual members and
as a group.
If
your team or group seems to have time problems related to group appointments
or team meetings, then consider doing a similar activity with a meeting
evaluation or group evaluation. Free versions of these team forms may
also be found on the same
webpage as the
time management self-evaluation.
"It's how we spend our time here and
now, that really matters. If you are fed up with the way you have come to
interact with time, change it." - Marcia Wieder
"Until you value yourself, you will not value
your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it." -
M. Scott Peck
