Mary Elizabeth Murphy "Being a leader is not about being more powerful. It's about making people around you more powerful." Betty Linton

Turning the Tables on Time

Do you feel like Wonder Woman when it comes to juggling your time and responsibilities? Perhaps a colorful cape, some cool boots and a lasso would be all you need to complete this persona to help you conquer the world?

What about that feeling of losing control over your time—like somehow it got off course, like a runaway train—or that time somehow has gripped you with such force that you can’t escape? If only you could stop that train with your powerful boots, or break time’s grip with the strength of your gold bracelets!

The fact of the matter is that time is the great equalizer. We all get the same amount to use every day: 24 hours, or 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds. So, whether you have all the power of Wonder Woman or not, you need to take back control over your time. However you look at it, time is precious. So, how do you maximize your time while not letting it take over your life?

First, sit back and close your eyes for a minute. Now, imagine if you could have 60 minutes of unscheduled time every day. That would be seven hours in a week and 28 additional hours in a month. Expand it for the year and that would be 14 extra free days.

This may sound ridiculous, but it’s not. In our rush-to-get-it-done and beat-the-deadline world we are living in, I am actually suggesting that you, “Wonder Woman,” can in fact find an extra 60 minutes in every day—for you. Sixty minutes to do the things you keep on that “if I only had more time” wish list.

The following is a list of 11 tips and concepts for time management. Make learning these concepts a habit, so that you can turn the tables and take back control over your time. As you review this list, ask yourself some questions: Which of these categories are most critical in your job or business? Which categories are you already controlling? Learn ways to develop those you still need to improve upon, and the sooner (rather than later) you will have those extra two weeks.

1. Goals – Be sure that you are setting SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed.

3. Analyze Your Day – Check that your activities are consistent with your goals.

5. Schedule – Little ever happens in your life until you create the space for it to happen. Set a start and an end time.

7. Written Communications – Ask yourself these three questions: Will I really do anything with this? If the answer is “no,” then dump it. If the answer is “yes,” ask the next two questions: When will I do it? Where will I keep it?

9. Delegation – Consider how you will manage the job before you delegate it. Insist on results not perfection. There are usually many ways to get the same results. Learn to live with differences.

11. Team Time – Discuss goals, priorities, and plans with superiors, subordinates, team members and support staff. Do it often.

In addition to adhering to the above 11 tips, keep in mind the following ideas and techniques that have been tested and refined repeatedly since 1972 by Dr. Larry Baker and Dr. Merrill Douglass, the authors of the Time Mastery Profile*. First, determine whether or not you have an internal or external attitude toward controlling your time use. “Internals” are people who believe they can make a difference in their world and that they can control at least some of the things that happen to them. “Externals” believe that they’re at the mercy of their environment and that they have no control or influence over the things that happen to them. They simply react to their environment. Everyone falls somewhere on the continuum. The point here is that the more we believe we can control, the more we will intend to control and the more we will control.

Not using your time wisely can impact both your professional and personal lives. You don’t have to be Wonder Woman, but you can lasso time back under your control.

*Minneapolis, MN: Inscape Publishing.