[Time-Management] 100 Days Improvement Plan!

 

Day 90

26th October 2011

`If you want to win friends, make it a point to remember them. If you remember my name, you pay me a subtle compliment; you indicate that I have made an impression on you. Remember my name and you add to my feeling of importance.'

Dale Carnegie

 

I wish you all a very happy and bright Diwali!

 

Respect and Remember Names.

 

 

Do you give importance to remember peoples' name? It is a basic courtesy you can show to any person who is introduced to you.

A name is a very emotional thing for a person. The happiest time for a parent is the day when they give a name for their child. From our childhood days we have been repeatedly called by our names. When we achieve something we are given a certificate carrying our name and we proudly show it to many people.

 

Don't we feel happy when someone addresses us by our correct name?

 

Remember the following basic etiquettes:

  • Take interest to remember and recall a person's name.
  • If there a special way in which the person wants his name to be spelt based on numerology sentiments, respect the same.
  • When you address a letter or any communication, use the correct spelling with the correct first name, initial etc.
  • After meeting a person on several occasions, don't embarrass him by asking his name once again or calling him by a wrong name. You are insulting him.

 

There so much in a name!

N C Sridharan

www.thetimefoundation.com

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[Time-Management] 100 Days Improvement Plan!

 

Day 89

25th October 2011

Respect Personal Space.

"Etiquette means behaving yourself a little better than is absolutely essential."

 

Cuppy, Will

People want privacy. Learn to respect the personal space of others. When we know someone too well, sometimes we take them for granted and without our being aware of it, we may intrude into their personal space. Some people may not like it. Some may feel embarrassed to express this. Some others may tell you bluntly and you may not like it. Even among very close relationships such as husband and wife, there is a personal space.

 

Check for the following traits in you:

  • Do you ask very personal questions to your friends?
  • Do you offer unsolicited advice?
  • Do you give unsolicited criticisms?
  • Do you offer unsolicited suggestions?
  • Do you point out others' mistakes which they may not like?
  • Do you barge into others' office without appointment?
  • Do you take undue liberties with your friends?

These are the areas where you've to be very careful with respect to personal space. Respecting others' personal space is good manners and etiquette. Maintaining good rapport and interpersonal relationship is an art. We should be diplomatic and graceful when moving with others.

N C Sridharan

www.thetimefoundation.com

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[Time-Management] 100 Days Improvement Plan!

 

Day 88

24th October 2011

`By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail'.

Benjamin Franklin

 

Double the Planning Time.

 

Double the planning time to cut the execution time by half!

Looks very simple? But it is a very powerful time management idea. Every project involves a planning and a doing phase. The quality of execution depends on the quality planning.

 

Before going to sleep, spend at least thirty minutes of your time on how you are going to spend your next day. Similarly spend the first hour of the day in planning and meditating.

 

Take an important project which will make a substantial value addition to your life and do a detailed strategic planning. Use project management charts and tools. Plan for all the activities, resource mobilisation, time schedule etc. Anticipate problems and think `if this goes wrong then...' and prepare a contingency plan.

 

Put your plan on a piece of paper. Many people don't do this part well. Mental planning is not good enough for important projects. When you write down, many things will get cleared. It will be a good idea to discuss your plan with others who may have a different perspective.

 

Meticulous planning will avoid unnecessary tension during execution.

N C Sridharan

www.thetimefoundation.com

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[Time-Management] 100 Days Improvement Plan!

 

Day 87

21st October 2011

Time = life; therefore, waste your time and waste of your life, or master your time and master your life.
Alan Lakein

Respect Others' Time.

Are you sensitive to others' priorities? If you want people to respect your priorities, you should respect their priorities. Time is a scarce resource which should not be wasted, whether it is your time or others' time.

 

Check if you do the following:

  • Do you waste others' time in involving them in unnecessary conversation, especially if you are in such a position that they cannot avoid?
  • Do you engage others on long telephone conversations, insensitive to time?
  • Do you make people wait without any reason?
  • Do you make unreasonable demands on their time regardless of their time?
  • Do you interrupt others too often affecting their flow of work?
  • Do you force your priorities on others using your power and authority?

Some people may not express their embarrassment if you are not sensitive to their priorities. They may not feel comfortable to say `no' to your demands on their time.

Over the next week, audit your own style with respect to the above factor. If you value others' time and priorities, they will also reciprocate the same sentiment!

N C Sridharan

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[Time-Management] 100 Days Improvement Plan!

 

Day 86

20th October 2011

`Television:  chewing gum for the eyes'. 

Frank Lloyd Wright

 

Control TV Viewing Time.

Have you considered cutting your TV time? Do it immediately. The visual media is so powerful that it will take away all your precious time. With the latest technology available, there is no limit at all for the number of channels available to watch. The only limitation is our time, which you know is very scarce.

 

Just imagine your life before the TV came to your room! Did you not have more family time and personal time? What happened to all that?

 

Consider the following:

  • Choose in advance, which programmes you are going to watch. All programmes may be interesting, but you have limited time.
  • Spend quality time on TV by watching useful channels. Give a functional bias to your TV watching portfolio.
  • Log your TV watching time for a week and try to reduce it by 20% to start with.
  • Don't have a TV in your work or study area; it will interfere with your work.

The list is endless. If you are really serious, you can use the TV for a productive purpose.

N C Sridharan

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[Time-Management] 100 Days Improvement Plan

 

Day 85

19th October 2011

`Utility is when you have one telephone, luxury is when you have two, opulence is when you have three – and paradise is when you have none'

Doug Larson

Don't Become a Victim of Telephone Tyranny.

 

Are you becoming addicted to your mobile phone and a slave of the `telephone tyranny'? Have you carefully studied your style of using this most important communication device? Do you know how many hours you spend on telephone every day?

Any technology should be used for productive purpose and if we are not conscious, we will become a slave to technology. In fact, a misused technology will become counterproductive.

For the next ten days do the following exercise:

  • Practice a `telephone free zone' of two or three hours every day.
  • Let people know that you will not answer your official calls after a specific time, unless it is absolutely necessary.
  • Resolve not to speak for more than three to four minutes on any personal call.
  • Use your discretion before you place a call. When in doubt, don't make the call!
  • Have a target to cut down your telephone bill be 20% from next month.
  • Jot down five ways how you are going to be more intelligent in the use of your mobile.

Today introspect over the above questions and check if you are overusing your phone.

N C Sridharan

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[Time-Management] 100 Days Improvement Plan!

 

Day 84

18th October 2011

 `If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads'.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

`I cannot live without books'.

Thomas Jefferson

 

Programme Your Reading Portfolio.

 

Do you have an effective reading programme? In a world where information is power, you should be well informed about the most important developments in your field of specialisation. For this, you have to read. Due to various other priorities, the reading portfolio may get the least attention if you don't programme your reading.

 

Consider the following:

  • Set aside a specific place for reading. Have a small book shelf, note pads, pencil etc to help your reading effectiveness.
  • Practice fixed time reading as a discipline. May be one hour in the morning or one hour in the night.
  • Remove sources of distractions such as television, radio, mobile phone etc.
  •  Use the timer or stop watch to track time frame.
  • Ensure that you are not disturbed by others.
  • Practice paraphrasing each chapter and it will enhance retention.
  • Focus reading topic wise, like leadership on one month, time management on another etc.

 

Remember that time is an invisible resource and unless you schedule and budget, it will be dissipated on unimportant activities at the cost of critical activities.

N C Sridharan

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