Time management articles revealing the truth about time killers

All the time management articles in the world won't do you much good if you regularly fall prey to some of these common time wasters. Here are six of the worst offenders and how to organize your day to deal with them effectively.

#1. Telephone calls
You'd think these are time savers, not time killers. Well, they're both. When you get onto the phone, do you identify yourself straightaway and get to the point or do you play 'who is speaking' games? That makes a big difference.

Be brief while on the phone. It's extremely exasperating when someone is trying to reach you and is confronted with a busy tone for a long time. A work phone is not really the best option for long-winded conversations. This is useful advice found in several time management articles.

Do turn off your cell phone when you're in a serious discussion with others. It's a huge time waster when you get a call and have to put your colleagues on standby while you chat and giggle over your phone. If you do have to take a call, be brief.

#2. The 'can't stop talking types'
These are folks who love their own voices too much! The best thing to do is steer clear of such people. If you can, arrange for your secretary to divert a call from such folks, or just take a message, etc.

#3. Meetings
Yes, meetings are very useful tools. But more often than not, they're misused. There are studies which show that about 70% of senior management time is spent in meetings. Stay away from meetings if there is no clear agenda and a commitment to get results out of it instead of wasting everyone's time.

#4. Traffic jams / parking problems
If you live in a big city, you know these twin headaches - and time wasters - of city life. Where possible, take public transport and walk the remainder of the way to your office. You'll often have less stress and get there quicker.

If that's not possible, try to do something constructive while commuting by car. Like listening to a self-improvement tape, or a tape that helps you upgrade your work-related skills and knowledge.

#5. Queues
Well, you can't avoid all of them. But wherever that's feasible, do your work over the internet, or over the telephone. Whether it's booking tickets for a show, or whatever else. Even if you have to pay a few extra dollars, its well worth the time saved.

#6. Machines
Huh? These are supposed to be time savers?! Well, yes. But broken or malfunctioning machinery, or even machinery that's past its prime and is slow are all huge time wasters.

Examples - photocopy machines that produce faint copies, drawers that won't open without a struggle, computers that struggle to cope with the latest software packages that actually call for faster machines, etc.

Read all time management articles that might help you get around or avoid these time killers. Your work days will be much better for it.

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