Dr. Steven Covey has developed the Time Management Matrix system, which I will briefly outline with you. There are 2
important words and those are Important and URGENT, that we will use as our perimeters.
Most people consider URGENT as Important, when in all actuallity, there is a difference. Although, it has a place, urgency
can easily take over things that also matter very much, such as planning a vacation, or writing a mission statement of values,
and planning the day, week, or even year.
There are 4 quadrants and they are:
- Urgent and Important
- Important and NOT Urgent
- Urgent and NOT Important
- NOT Urgent and NOT Important
Remember that someone who is important to you, their importance will be of your importance as well. If not, than you have
not created the habit of helping that person. That is okay, just make sure that you spend your time wisely on things and people
that DO matter, starting with Yourself.
There is an order of importance, and there are other settings such as:
- Maintenence - The regular chores and up-keeping of items and things.
- Committed - Things that you have told people you will do.
- Discretionary - Your leisure and free time, which is important as well.
To review your tasks and activities, fill in the lines.
Urgent and Important: ( problems )
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Important but not Urgent ( future goals, plans, mission )
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
Urgent but not Important ( Needless Interuptions, O.P.P. other peoples problems )
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Not Important or Urgent ( Time wasters )
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Please Read:
For a successful management of time, everything should be in Quadrant 2. That is your goal. Solve important urgent problems
before they grow into a giant monster and rob you of all of your important time. Quadrants 3 and 4 can create problems when
they steal time from Quadrant 2. You can gain time by decreasing 3 and 4 into non-existance. You can schedule in the proper
times for yourself and to help others and gain increased cooporation. Show people your plans, and see where you can fit them
into it, whether it is right away, or after a pre-planned activity. Stay Flexible, but On Point. Whenever you say yes to someone
or something, you are saying No to someone or something else, whether "no" is momentary, temporary, or permenant.
How to Create Synergy: (Win-Win)
LISTEN to what the other person has to ask or say.
Present what you have to ask or say to the listener.
Combine ideas to come up with a plan that is greater than each others alone.
Be firm on your stand, while being flexible of the others demands.
This is better than compromise, as it is mutual gain and a Win-Win.
