An organized manager leads an organized and productive team. You can work in harmony by setting clear standards for yourself and your employees. Using time management skills and techniques will allow you to maximize your focus and productivity, and minimize distractions.
A remote manager with proper time management skills can inspire their team to follow suit, enriching company productivity. Most people aren’t born with time management skills; they learn them. And no matter your age, it’s never too late to learn.
Whether you use time blocking, the Eisenhower Matrix, or the Eat That Frog technique, finding the best way to organize your day is essential. Pair these techniques with time management skills, such as monotasking and respecting deadlines, and you may even find yourself working shorter days.
Why Are Time Management Skills So Important For Remote Leaders?
Time management skills are essential for remote leaders because they allow them to have a better work/life balance. If a manager is using their time wisely during working hours, they won’t feel stressed or underproductive at the end of the day. They’ll know they completed each task they could to the best of their ability.
Aside from work/life balance, time management skills make the work day less stressful, more productive, and typically allow you to focus better.
“…Many remote leaders have been loath to rethink critical elements of how they plan, position, and execute their days. This has resulted in longer hours. With no clear and obvious buffer between work and life, it’s too easy to keep the screen on, keep responding to Slack messages, and keep deferring family and community. While the brain may appreciate one less layer of change, the side effect is more time spent with work.”
Darren Murph – VP Workplace Design & Remote Work
What Makes Working From Home Difficult In Terms Of Time Management?
Unlike being in the office, when you’re working from home, there’s no one watching you. No one is likely to notice if you take an extra long lunch or answer a phone call in the middle of the workday. There are many more distractions that are difficult to ignore, including family, roommates, and house chores.
On the other hand, it’s also easy to get lost in your work and work extra hours. It’s important to focus on the quality and quantity of work you have completed in a day rather than the number of hours you spent on a project.
6 Effective Time Management Techniques
- Pomodoro Technique
To follow this technique, you need a timer. Set the timer for 25 minutes and focus exclusively on work. When the timer goes off, take a five-minute break. Do this four times and then reward yourself with a longer break (20-30 minutes) before starting again.
- Eisenhower Matrix
With this technique, you write down everything you plan to do and separate the tasks into ‘important’ and ‘unimportant’ sections. Then, you separate the ‘important’ section into ‘urgent’ and ‘delay’ sections. You separate the ‘unimportant’ tasks into ‘delegate’ and ‘delete’ sections.
- Parkinson’s Law
This method states that the amount of time you set aside for a task is the amount of time the task will take. If you have a two-week deadline, studies show that you’ll likely spend your time less productively, and the task will take longer than it needs to. Plan your work strategically, decide how long the task will take, and set a strict deadline for yourself.
- Eat That Frog Technique
Mark Twain said, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” This technique encourages you to choose the biggest, most challenging task and conquer it first thing in the morning.
- Kanban
Kanban is a great method for visual learners. Use an online tool, piece of paper, sticky notes, or markerboard to create four lists. The first is a list of everything you need to do. The next is a daily or weekly to-do list; these tasks are top priority. The third list is of tasks you’re currently working on. The fourth list is the tasks you have finished.
- Time Blocking
Elon Musk praises this method for allowing him to work 80-hour weeks while still having time for himself. He breaks down each day into five-minute intervals. However, you may want to start with thirty minutes to hour-long intervals. First, make a list of everything that must get done. Then, schedule your day with specific time blocks for each task. Don’t forget to schedule a few breaks throughout your day.
7 Time Management Skills to Conquer
Aside from following a time management technique, time management skills can also make a big difference in your day’s productivity. Some of the most important skills to master include the following:
- Planning. Make a priority list, or choose one of the techniques listed above to map out your day.
- Set strict hours. If your career allows, try a few different schedules, and notice which hours you are more productive and focused. When your work day is done, turn off your computer and push notifications.
- Focus on one task at a time. While multitasking may sound like a good way to get a lot done, studies show that only 2.5% of people can multitask successfully.
- Task delegation. Know what is your responsibility and what isn’t. Delegate tasks to employees so that you can work on something more important.
- Set firm deadlines. Decide when something needs to be finished and hold yourself to the same standards that you hold your employees.
- Know when to take a break. Take small breaks throughout the day to revitalize your body and mind. Breaks can prevent and reduce stress and exhaustion.
- Set and respect boundaries. Don’t obsessively check your work email after hours. Similarly, don’t contact your employees outside of scheduled working hours.
