Time Management

Peter Drucker said, "Know thy time." In an effort to try and act as an executive, I am learning how to master my time. I want to know where I spend my time, how I spend my time, on whom I spend my time, why I spend my time. These are all pertinent questions and for me, it is all about setting priorities. Knowing the end result is critical to knowing how to spend my time now. I must dedicate 10 hours in a given work day to my 8-5 cubical life including drive time and lunch. It is my goal to make the most of that time not only accomplishing my work tasks, but also working out on lunch break, educating myself during long phone calls that don't require much brain power, and focusing when it is time to focus. Before and after work hours is when the time management issue becomes so important for me.

The key to success for an manager who is directing organizational development on any level, is knowing your time. You must know how every moment is spent, but more importantly, why it is spent. Are you investing in the RIGHT things? Time is the ONLY commodity we have that we cannot make more of, duplicate, or ever get back. Without properly setting goals, AND expected results, we cannot expect to invest our time in the RIGHT THINGS.

For more information on this and other topics: http://www.emerald-business-services.com/strategic-planning-.html

Business?

I am just as surprised as the next guy, perhaps more so, that I am so interested in business. For me I do not think it is so much the business that I am interested in as much as it is the people. Business is in fact made up of people and these people need to have direction and purpose in their given endeavor. I am interested in working with the people of the business to create companies with focus and direction. I want to make an impact on the world around me. I am not interested in short one word answers to complex problems, I want to think about the problems and come up with appropriate responses to the appropriate problems. The reality is that a list full of problems is actually a list full of opportunities; and I want to find them and supply them to spark growth and development within organizations. Business... me?! I guess, if this is business- I want in.

People and Tasks:

"...the Lord did not create people as "resources" for organizations. They do not come in proper sizes and shape for the tasks that have to be done in organization- and they cannot be machined down of recast for these tasks. People are always "almost fits" at best. To get the work done with people (and no other resource is available) therefore requires lot's of time, thought, and judgment. " (Peter Drucker, p33, 1976)

Placing people in the proper place for the proper job is a difficult task, but in the end you make a decision based on what you know and then simply let them do the tasks test out for them. Sometimes there is training that must happen, sometimes there is more training needed. The trick is, get as much knowledge as you can. First about the person being hired, and second, know the position being hired for. What kind of person will best fit that position?

Thought for the morning:

Peter F. Drucker concluded that great managers may be charismatic or dull, generous or tightfisted, visionary or numbers oriented. But every effective executive follows eight simple practices:

1. They ask "What needs to be done?"
2. They ask "What is right for the enterprise?"
3. They develop action plans
4. They take responsibility for decisions
5. They take responsibility for communicating
6. They are focused on opportunities rather than problems
7. They run productive meetings
8. They think and say "we" rather than "I"

And what do you think about these? I suppose in the words of the master himself, "...there seems to be little correlation between a man's effectiveness and his intelligence, his imagination or his knowledge. Brilliant men are often strikingly ineffectual; they fail to realize that the brilliant insight is not by itself achievement." (The Effective Executive, 1, 1967)

Intellection: Strength #2

Action Items for me:

• Consider beginning or continuing your studies in philosophy, literature, or psychology. You will always enjoy subject matter areas that stimulate your thinking.
• Thinking is energizing for you, so schedule times for your thinking. Use these times to think and reflect.
• List you ideas in a log or diary (or a blog). These ideas will serve as grist for your mental mill, and might yield valuable insights.
  
• Take time to write. Writing might be the best way to crystallize and integrate your thoughts.
  
• Find people who like to talk about the same issues you do. Organize a discussion group that addresses subjects that interest you.
• Deliberately build relationships with people you consider to be "big thinkers." Their example will inspire you to focus your own thinking.
  

Just a small insight into who I am. My favorite strengths are for sure Positivity and Futurist, but I am drawn to intellection and input and I don't even feel I understand connectedness. This blog may serve as a way to uncover those strengths and employ them in the business world.

Starting:

Starting something new is always challenging. Blogging is my outlet. I do it on FB a lot, and Tweeting has become all the rage, but it is a discipline that I need to engage in more often and with a greater passion. I am starting a new business venture with someone I trust. Business is a new venture for me and I am excited about the potential. I have a lot to learn and I hope I will document that here.

Lesson #1: Social life must be turned down. Too much of my life (up until I was about 27) has been spent on socializing. Don't get me wrong, a social life is important and friends are valuable, but not at the expense of growth and maturing. Business is all about growing. I am realizing that the old adage, "early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise" is true. Every wealthy man I know, every successful business man I know and trust lives this out. Even my pastor, who is often up late with ministry engagements is still up at 6am. My business mentor and friend Mike Adams (http://www.emerald-business-services.com/) starts his day at 5am. Note to self. Time to grow up and start taking life by the horns.