Time Study Consulting

Take Control When You Can’t Say No

Sometimes it is difficult to say no. An urgent request comes your way and it has to get done. Right now. Yesterday if possible. If you could say no and turn down the request, you’d have more time for the things that count. But the situation demands action and you can’t refuse. You’re not too happy about it. In that case, you might just have to say yes. But when you do, take control of the situation rather than letting it take control of you. Provide suggestions or alternatives to the person making the request. “I can help you by finding out who really should be doing this,” or, “How about if I show you how to do that and then you’ll be all set to go.”

Or, agree to the request this time. But ask how the two of you might plan better to avoid a rush the next time.

Another strategy is to tell the person “yes”, but remind them that they owe you one. For example, if you have to fill in for them at work, they might reciprocate by covering you for a shift the next time you need time off.

You can’t always say no, but you can you can take control by setting the timetable on your own terms. For instance say, “OK, I think I can squeeze that in. I expect I’ll be able to get it to you by four o’clock today. Does that work?” Set the schedule rather than letting someone set it for you.

Finally, consider putting a tough condition on your agreement. “If it would only take an hour, I’d be able to help, but I can’t give you more than that.” When in doubt, it’s easier to say no now, and then change your mind to a yes later, rather than the other way around.

So take control and manage those interuptions.  After all, your time is worth it.

Mark Ellwood Radio Interview on Productivity

Have you got six minutes? Here’s a punchy radio interview with some practical tips for managing your time.  Along with the tips, you’ll hear time study insights from our work measurement and process improvement projects. Give it a listen, and share it with your colleagues.  Your time is worth it ! 

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The Useful Commute Interview with Mark Ellwood

How to Delegate

Our time study data indicates that the average employee spends 19% of his or her time on administrative tasks. This increases to 25% for managers. For many of them, delegation of some tasks would free up more time for high priority activities.

But employees make all kinds of excuses for not delegating. They justify their inefficiency through beliefs that are unfounded. If you want to make better use of your time, you’ll get more done through delegation. Catch yourself when you say one of the following. Often, the opposite is true! Read more »

The Best Tip For Planning Your Day

Employees who spend more time planning generally get better results. This is based on evidence from our work measurement studies where employees track their time using our TimeCorder device. So make time for planning each day. Here is my favorite tip on how to do it – just two minutes long.

The Burden of E-Mail

Based on data from a number of our time and motion consulting projects, e-mail is indeed the burden that many employees believe it to be. Read more »

How to Say No

Do you find yourself saying “yes”to others because you want to please them? This creates obligations that are difficult to get out of. But eventually you can’t do everything you promised. Then you have to let people down because you can’t finish. As a result, you feel guilty. Both you and the person you made a promise to end up suffering. So instead of saying “yes” all the time, assert yourself and say “no”. Here are some tips on how to do it. Read more »

How to Overcome Procrastination

Be inspired to overcome procrastination. Coming in early 2012, BuddyHive.com will link random buddies to be accountable to each other as they achieve small tasks. Fill in the form to be first in our upcoming beta test.

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Procrastination is the intentional and habitual postponement of an important task that should be done now. Procrastination is fostered by habit. So if you want to stop procrastinating, you will have to break old habits and develop new ones.  But first, try to understand the causes for your procrastination. If you can, you’re halfway there.  Recognize the difference between an appropriate decision to delay and an irrational postponement without justification. If you find yourself waiting for information from someone else, then it is appropriate to delay a project.  If not, overcome procrastination through task strategies in an environment where distractions are minimized. Read more »

Top 10 Time Tamers

How can you become more productive? Here are the most popular and powerful time tips, all in one spot. Read more »