Prioritize!! It is IMPORTANT

Ever wondered why managers fail to cope up with their work load? There is only answer: The do not know how to prioritize their work. And in fact it is the drawback that many a manager suffer from despite their qualification, experience and efficiency. 

Prioritizing one's activities and goal posts is a constant process. A thing that was important yesterday, may not be so today, likewise an event or a goalpost important today may be far below in the list of priorities when the new day dawns. 


It is therefore incumbent upon ever manager to keep evaluating everyday's activities viz-a-viz the market trends, organization's aspirations and client demands to smartly and consistently get over with the most important than the lesser ones. If one carries out this drill continuously and regularly, one can have one's productivity level enhanced manifold.


However to correctly prioritize one's activities, one has to have:


A very clear perception
Up to date market reading and analysis
Detailed knowledge of market trends
Client requirements and mindset 
An update on Technological advancements and developments directly or indirectly affecting one's sphere of business
If one adopts the prioritization approach correctly to his everyday routine work in the office, or even otherwise in one's life, one can see things getting better and paying back handsomely - both in kind and appreciation, which are pre-requisites for efficiency and smart work.
Remember, if you prioritize your work correctly, you get focused attention on the things that require priority handling, which saves time and give better results. But also remember EVERYTHING can not be Priority One. One has to have a clear mind and analytic approach to sift activities that require precedence over others. And the prioritized list must be in accordance with the company's policy one works for. One should not be at tangent to company's policy.

It doesn't take long to prioritize things - so why not do it now? It is for your own benefit.

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Time Management – Take Half the Time in Getting Things Done

Many a managers complain lack of time when undertaking an assignment and usually overshoot the time-lines or the deadline given to them. This not only demoralizes them in their future undertakings, makes them nervous and dejected but also has adverse effects on the company’s overall performance and goal achievement. But there are some “smart” guys, who not only finish their assignments well before the time, but also find extra time for friends and families. So what to do?

Well, answers are not very simple, but if one concentrates single mindedly on the “most important” task first, he is likely to reduce the time by about half or in some cases even more. Normally the complaining managers don’t take a jump start; rather their activities are erratic and interrupted. So the start-stop-start methodology not only increase the time it takes to do a thing, but also results in loss of concentration and drifting away from the goalposts set for them. This is exactly like a production-line process. In a textile industry for example, if the production line is interrupted due to some mechanical or electrical failure, the material fed into the system goes waste, and the entire process has to start afresh, resulting into loss of raw material, time and money.

One has to learn how not to drag one’s feet when it comes to work. One has to start one’s work with eagerness, enthusiasm and interest, and remain focused. In other words, it is a 100 Meters race – one, who picks with a lightening speed, finishes up a winning race. Ever looked at the joy of the runner finishing first? You could be the same if you start and finish like a winner. One has to keep the momentum and never let out oneself out of steam too early.

They key to success is twofold: Setting of the right priorities and concentration and remaining focused throughout the race. No other task or commitment should come your way when you take a start as these would act as detractors and time spoilers. One should have the courage to say “NO” to people or things that are of lesser value at a particular time since these can be taken care of later. But if one takes the time out and attends to the less important, he is out of the race he was already running and would finish last.

So begin your day with top priority tasks fully focused first right in the morning so that you finish in time and have time to plan for the next day and attend to the lesser important in the remaining time. Don’t leave anything for tomorrow as it would hamper your schedule for the next day.

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