Saying "no" for a Good Reason

There are times when we are full with so much activities and tasks, we tend to forget about the people surround us, or the people who are always wait to receive the call from you, or even your colleague who sits just beside your desk. But in the other side, have we ever realize when it is time to talk to somebody; we have spent so much time that it is actually disrupting our works. In this article you will learn on how to deal with this problem.

This question clinches it all because in most cases, that is where all the time goes. I do not mean that you should behave like a hermit and stay away from people. But ask yourself if you really talk too much.
Or a better way would be to try and remember everything you say the next time you talk to somebody. You could even try carrying a voice recorder in your pocket and press the record button the moment you start speaking.

And once you get back to your own ground, replay the tape and hear what you said. What you have to do is find out if there is a shorter and faster way of saying what you did. If there is a shorter way, then certainly you do spend a lot of time talking.

Work on that and try to bring down the time you spend talking because that is where all our time goes. We have absolutely no idea how much time is lost by mere parleying.

Such a self analysis is certainly a positive step towards effective time management.

Saying No

The idea might sound strange but being able to say no is fundamental to any scheme of Time Management.

Yes you have the master plan for time management, you have everything worked out, you have a time table which you stick to religiously, and you have a to do list as well. But just when things are beginning to work out fine, a colleague or friend comes your way and asks you to help them out by doing certain jobs which are really their jobs.

The person smiles very sweetly at you and showers sugar coated words on you, and before you even know what hit you, you have said yes and agreed to do the work for the person. Now what is the relevance of your well thought out timetable? Where is your scheme for time management? Your work is waiting in the pantry while you are sweating over somebody else work. And it is because of the simple reason that you could not say no to the person. How many times have you had a similar experience?

I am not saying that you should not be civil. If you find a colleague in distress and have the time to spare, by all means help the person. Who knows, tomorrow you might be in that persons position and you may need somebody help.

But that does not mean that you should let yourself be taken for a ride. If you are going to help a person at the expense of your work and schedule, then you are going to end up in hot water. It is human nature to shirk work and if word gets around that you are a very helpful guy (read that as s-u-c-k-e-r) then before you know it, requests for help will be coming from all sides.

Analyst yourself on how much time you need when you are talking to somebody else or when you are giving an order, find the way to get over it, it will save so much of your time. When you are stick to your schedule, and you know that you have only limited time to complete it, learn to say no if somebody else ask your favor to do their work.