Summary of Tips and Tools
- Set goals
- Produce a weekly plan and include all team members
- Prioritise tasks - use Lakein's A-B-C, 1-2-3 priority system to help you
- Use an Urgent and Important Matrix
- Plan daily, use to-do lists but make sure they're manageable and not over-ambitious
- Don't focus all of your attention on the easy tasks
- Keep chipping away at the more difficult tasks
- Pick the best time of day to complete certain tasks if necessary
- Make the best use of your time right now
- Use a diary - it doesn't matter if it's electronic or paper based
- Use a shared team calendar
- Schedule in preparation time for events and large pieces of work
- Use 'waiting' and 'travelling' time creatively
- Handle each piece of paper only once
- Work towards and equitable work-life balance
- When you receive a new piece of post or email you should - Act on it, File it, Delegate it to someone else or Throw it Away!
- Get into a routine
- Focus on moving forward, don't spend time on unnecessary distractions
- Organise your workspace - keep your desk tidy!
- File regularly
- Use shared file space
- Manage your email effectively, don't let it distract you from your main work
- Be proactive, not reactive
- Don't procrastinate
- Set sensible deadlines and work towards them
