Time Management Expert, Event Speaker: Mark Lamendola

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Time Tips: Technology

Put technology in its proper place, and use it purposefully. Most people do one of two things with technology:
  1. Limit themselves by not taking advantage of it, or
  2. Waste huge amounts of time treating technology as an end in itself, rather than as a means to greater productivity.

Let's address that second issue, first. No matter what technology tool you have, take the time to learn how to use it properly. Learn how to maintain it efficiently. Learn its limitations. Don't spend more time playing with the tool than it can save you.

For example, the Internet can provide huge time-savings in finding information. But merely browsing Websites can suck down hours. Using a cell phone to make and receive calls can greatly improve your productivity. But totaling out your car because you were trying to make a call in heavy traffic isn't a productive use of your time.

Take care, also, not to waste time with the "extras" of any given technology tool. For example, games on your computer and phone may be entertaining--but they can quickly take over your "spare" time.

Let's move on to that first point: not taking advantage of the technology available. Examples abound, and nearly all of them derive from either ignorance or fear.

Trying putting this on a job application, and see if you get hired: "I am ignorant and fearful." Here's another experiment. The next time you go to a social gathering of any sort, introduce yourself by saying, "Hi, there. I'm ignorant and fearful." The point here is that neither ignorance nor fear are desirable qualities. So, make a point of not succumbing to either one.

Computer example: Many people assemble tabular data in Microsoft Word. That's a misuse of the software. This kind of task, however, is ideal for Excel. But an ignorant or fearful person might say, "But I don't know how to use Excel." Well, if you can use Word then you can use Excel. Your problem is not Excel. Your problem is you are making yourself ignorant. Get over it and move on. Save enormous amounts of time by using the correct tool for the job is just the first of many benefits you will realize.

Phone example: Most phone features are a complete waste. But some are well-worth learning and using on a regular basis. Take the time to read through your phone manual and find the tools that can save you time. These go beyond simply auto-redial and other standard stuff.

Camera example: Everybody, it seems, has a digital camera these days. But what good is the camera if your photos are poorly composed, poorly focused, and so on? Take a photography course--these don't cost much. Or buy a book on photography. If you are allergic to reading, then get a video on photography.

To properly use technology, then, follow these tips:

  1. Assess what's out there. This is an ongoing process. Look past the hyperbole and at the specific things a device or software can do or that you can do better or faster with it.
  2. Note where a device or software might save you time.
  3. Evaluate the product to see what it actually does, and to get a feel for how and where you might use it.
  4. Assess your own processes, and think about whether the purchase is worth the time saved.
  5. Assess your other tools you already have. You want to avoid technology clutter. Can you adapt, upgrade, or replace something you already have? Factor this into the purchase decision. Too many gadgets, and you spawn a whole new set of problems.
  6. If the purchase makes sense, go through with it.
  7. Read the manual. Cover to cover. Twice. Then, read it again.
  8. Practice what you learned from the manual.

 

 

More thoughts on time management

The phrase "time management" is an unfortunate language quirk. You can't really manage time. It just is. You can't gain time, create time, or even lose time. Time is what it is, regardless of what we do. And, paradoxically, many common "time management" techniques and practices are timewasters because they divert limited resources (such as time) to the wrong things.

It would be better to say "time allocation" or "activity management" "time usage" or some other phraseology to indicate that it's not time itself you're managing but how you use the time that exists. But we'll use the common terminology here to avoid confusion.

Some things time management is not:

  • Being more efficient. Suppose you become very efficient at making buggy whips. Does this fact mean you are managing your time well?
  • Getting more done in a given amount of time. Getting more done of what? And to what degree of quality? If you rake the leaves on a lawn from one side to the other all day long, does that mean you are a good time manager?
  • Being able to juggle multiple priorities. Instead of juggling priorities, assign priorities. First tend to the urgent things, then the most important things.
  • Mastering multi-tasking. This concept conflicts with what we know about the human brain. If you buy into this self-defeating, time-wasting, quality-killing ideology, you might also be interested in practicing solo flight by flapping your arms frantically.
  • Working faster. No, this mode is how you make mistakes that you subsequently have to spend more time fixing.

Some things good time management involves:

  • Deciding what to do. This is trickier than it sounds. Which is why there are time management experts.
  • Deciding what not to do. This is even trickier than deciding what to do. Which is why there are time managers and why discipline is a huge, huge factor in accomplishing this.
  • Deciding what to do when, and in what order. In essence, prioritization.
  • Determining the scope, goals, and metrics for each activity you undertake. In this area, we the find most room for improvement. Precision here allows you to avoid waste on the one hand, and falling short on the other.
  • Planning out the work, task, project, or activity such that you determine the necessary steps to quality completion. That is, what must you do to meet the intended goal and quality metrics?
  • Identifying unnecessary steps. Get this right, and you can cut your wasted hours significantly.
  • Figuring out what resources to use. Not all resources applicable to a task are equal. Picking the right tool for the job saves time, improves quality, and makes life less stressful.

We've highlighted only some of the factors involved in good time management. We actually teach extreme time management, which is a methodology that allows you to make effective use of your time almost second nature. You don't need a complicated system. Our system puts many of the variables on autopilot, so you have more time to do what you need to do. Our system goes way beyond most other systems in results, yet is far simpler.

Contact us for a presentation to your organization: comments @ mindconnection.com (remove the spaces after pasting into your e-mail client's "to" box.