Page 333 - Effective Communication Soft Skills Strategies For Success by Nitin Bhatnagar, Mamta Bhatnagar

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16

Time-management Skills

After reading this chapter, you will be familiar with:
• Common problems due to ineffective time management
• Purpose of time management
• Effective time management principles
• First things first

INTRODUCTION

According to Alan Lakein (1973), if you control your time you can control
your life. Time is a precious commodity; everyone gets an equal share but we
use it very differently. We also look at time very differently. About 57 per cent
of us are present- and future-oriented, 33 per cent are mainly future-
oriented, 9 per cent are present-oriented and only 1 per cent focuses on the
past. Societies have different attitudes toward time. Some are rushed and
punctual, others are relaxed and disregard the clock. Successful manag-
ers, professionals, and students are future goal-oriented. Productive people
have set their priorities and scheduled their time accordingly. Unsuccessful,
unskilled workers and procrastinating students are present-oriented and
unorganized, fatalistic, and hedonistic. When current needs demand your
attention, whether that is because the family must be fed or you ‘must’ have
a good time with friends, it becomes harder to carefully plan for the future.
Our situation and needs influence our orientation of time, but our time ori-
entation (and needs) can be changed, leading to more success in life.

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