Page 112 - Time Management

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The Art of Anticipating
behavior change: set your
How Long
watch a few minutes fast,
Will It Take?
for example, or write the This bears repeating: 97
deadline as a few days ear- things usually take longer than antici-
lier on your calendar. Since pated.
reacting to time cues is It would be wonderful if you could
often automatic, you’ll act foresee obstacles every time before
they appear. But you can’t. What you
as if these false times are
can foresee, however, is the probabili-
real. It’s a weird phenome-
ty that they will appear.
non—worthy of a Seinfeld
You should always attempt to leave
episode—but it’s true. “wiggle room” in scheduling each of
Does this mean that your activities. If, by some stroke of
you’ll start showing up good fortune, nothing arises in the
early to most appoint- course of an activity to delay you,
ments or finishing things you’ll have a little extra time when
prematurely? Possibly. But approaching the next task.
handing over a project to a
client or to a boss early is an almost sure way to impress. And
an early arrival will give you time to prepare, to relax, or to
work on mini-tasks or readings. (Consider carrying a sheaf of
such items with you at all times.)

The False Deadline Strategy

You now have allowed for potential problems in what you do.
But how do you manage someone else’s behavior? How can
you boost the foresight ability of those you supervise, your col-
leagues, your friends, and family members?
Give false times and deadlines to people, but don’t tell them
what you’re doing. If they end up needing more time, you can
magnanimously award it to them. If they’re on time, all the better.
One other hint: Saying, “I need this in an hour” or “in a few
days” may prove to be too inexact. Strangely, “an hour” or “a
few days” can be interpreted as “three hours” or “a week.”
Better to say, “I need this by 5:00 p.m.” or “This must be com-
pleted by Friday, noon.”