Putting First Things First!!

A Discussion of Time Managementby Robin Connelly

Food Product Development3/21/00

All concepts, examples and figures adapted from:The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

by Stephen Covey

Questions to Ponder

Question 1:What one thing could you do (you aren’t doing it

now) that if you did on a regular basis would make a tremendous positive difference in your personal life?

Question 2:What one thing in your professional life would

bring similar results?

Levels of Time Management

Summary: Put first things first!!Summary: Put first things first!!

Level 4:Level 4: Use values, long term goals and Use values, long term goals and roles to set short term priorities.roles to set short term priorities.

Level 1: Reminders and “to do” listsLevel 2: Plans & schedulesLevel 3: Daily planning and prioritizing

Summary:Summary: Organize and execute around priorities.Organize and execute around priorities.

Time Management Matrix

Urgent:Urgent: Requires your immediate attention.

Important:Important: Contributing to your mission, your values, or your high priority goals.

Time Management Matrix

Quadrant I dominance:Quadrant I dominance: Crisis managers problem-minded people deadline-driven producers

Time Management Matrix

Quadrant III dominance:Quadrant III dominance: reacting to priorities and

expectations of others

Time Management Matrix

Quadrant III & IV Quadrant III & IV dominance:dominance:

leading irresponsible lives

Time Management Matrix

Quadrant II dominance:Quadrant II dominance: heart of effective personal

management includes activities like:

– building relationships– writing a personal mission

statement– long range planning– exercising– preventative maintenance– preparation

Moving into Quadrant II

Identifying RolesExample lists: Roles List I Roles List II– Individual - Personal Development– Husband/Father - Wife– Manager New Products - Mother– Manager Research - Real Estate Salesperson– Manager Staff Dev - Sunday School Teacher– Manager Administration - Symphony Board Member– Chairman United Way

Moving into Quadrant II

Identifying Roles Selecting goals

Example Personal Mission Statement:My Mission is to live with integrity and to make a difference in

the lives of others.To Fulfill this mission:

– I HAVE CHARITY: I seek out and love the one--each one--regardless of his situation.

– I SACRIFICE: I devote my time, talents and resourses to my mission.

– I INSPIRE: I teach by example that every Goliath can be overcome.

– I AM INPACTFUL: What I do makes a difference to others.

Moving into Quadrant II

Identifying Roles Selecting goals Scheduling

– Use weekly rather than daily basis– Plan quadrant II activities– Use worksheet such as example

Moving into Quadrant II

Identifying Roles Selecting goals Scheduling Daily adapting

– review daily– prioritize around balance of roles and values– respond to:

• unanticipated events• relationships• experiences

– Use level 1, 2 and 3 techniques to give order to your daily activities.

Putting First Things First!!

Using this time management strategy will help you to say YES to the things that really matter to you and NO to the things that will keep you from achieving your goals.

The Seven Habits

To learn more about how to become an effective person, you should read Stephen Covey’s book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”.