HOW TO MANAGE THE TIME OF OTHERS
To make the best use of your time, you also have to manage that of your staff, colleagues, and seniors. Learn to delegate well, share tasks, and manage upwards as well as down.
Communicating Well
To manage others so that you all make the best use of available time, you first need to master the art of communication. This is not just a matter of deciding what your message is; it is also about deciding how to communicate that message.
Spreading Information
Today, companies are evolving in a way that makes it easier for the people within them to communicate with each other. A gradual cultural change has meant that organizations are more open. You can use this new openness to save time, for example, by spreading information verbally rather than writing a memo.
Spoken communication has the added advantage of being two-way, encouraging the involvement of staff, and allowing refinement of detail. But any important point covered verbally should also be noted in writing to minimize later uncertainties.
Revising Methods
Intranet and e-mail systems allow rapid, widespread dissemination of information. They can also make working at home without losing touch with colleagues a more practical and attractive option than it used to be. However, beware of information overload; the volume of data may make what is effectively junk e-mail seem more important than it is, and the ease of electronic communication can make it tempting to send messages that are not strictly necessary.
Remember, too, that as organizations become less hierarchical and lines of communication open out, recipients may lack necessary background information, so always be clear and precise to avoid time-wasting misunderstandings.
Tips
Maintain high expectations, and people will live up to them.
Hearing is not the same as listening. Learn to listen.
Persuade others of your case using facts, not emotions.
Take an interest in what others are trying to achieve.
