Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Effective Use of Time

It is important to understand just exactly where you now stand in
relation to using your time effectively. The following quiz will help
you to quantify your position on nine important areas of your
business life. You must be completely honest with yourself for this
to be helpful.


After you have completed your answers, allow some time to pass.
Then review the questionnaire and the answers and decide whether
you are pleased with the honest answers you gave. If you are
satisfied, place a check mark in the + column. If you wish it had
been possible to give a different answer, place a check in the -
column. The marks in the "-" column will give you some insight
into areas of Time Management where you might set goals for
improvement. Good Luck!


1. Work Hours Y N   + -
a. Are you satisfied with the number of hours
    you work each week?
1. How many hours do you work?
2. How many would you like to work?
b. If you could shorten your work day one
    hour, do you know how you would spend
    the time you save?
1. How would you spend it? __________
    _________________________________


2. Work Habits
a. Do you make a written list of what you intend
    to do each day?
b. Do you keep any kind of record that shows
    whether you complete your list or not?
c. Do you assign time limits to the items on your
    task list?
d. Do you have a calendar where you record tasks
    and appointments you intend to accomplish in
    the future?


3. Types of Time
a. Do you set aside a block of time every day or
    several times a week for uninterrupted activity?
b. Do you set priorities for different tasks and
    decide which jobs merit your primary attention ?
c. Do you tend to organize related tasks to be
    accomplished is specific blocks of time? (Example):
    Grouping calls, reading mail, etc.


4. Work Space
a. Do you often find yourself spending more than
    2 - 3 minutes looking for something you need?
b. Do you keep your work space fairly clear of
    anything except the project you are currently
    working on?
c. Is your work space arranged so that everything
    you need is readily available?


5. Training Those Who Work For You Y N + -
a. Could as much as half of the questions be
    avoided with better job training?
b. Do you stop  your work to answer questions
    at unplanned times each day?
c. Could some of the questions be avoided
    with more effective delegation and authority?


6. Use of a Secretary
a. Does she know what is on your task list
    for today?
b. Does she know exaxctly how to handle visitors?
c. Does she know how to handle telephone callers?
d. Is she able to quickly find necessasry files
    for you?
e. Does she open and organize your mail?
f. Does your secretary automatically answer mail
   for you?
g. Does she always know where  you are during
    the working day?


7. Some New Time
a. Do you tend to sit with nothing to do while
    waiting for an appointment?
b. Do you make effective use of travel time
    commuting to work or going to appointments?
d. Have you used a tape recorder in the car
    while traveling?


8. Visitors
a. Could you discourage some visitors without
    being too unfriendly?
b. Do people feel free to stop in your office if
    they have no important business to address?
c. Do you usually keep your office door open?
d. Are you guilty of interrupting others by going
    to their offices on a frequent basis?
e. Do you encourage others to stay longer than
    necessary by engaging in small talk, offering
    a cup of coffee, etc.?


9. Your Work Habits
a. Do you allow the telephone to break your
    concentration?
b. Would your work day be easier if your
    secretary held calls and let you make return
    calls in groups?
c. Do you spend a good deal of telephone time
    on social exchanges not related to the call?
d. Do you interrupt other people with telephone
    calls that are not important?
e. Could you make better use of memos instead
    of numerous telephone calls?







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