Time management and technology
The impact of technology on time management Technology is supposed to help us, and yet the more it does, the less managers know how to prioritize. This same technology puts all information on an equal footing that we find very difficult to sort out. Technology and its impact on time management A 2014 study shows […]
The impact of technology on time management
Technology is supposed to help us, and yet the more it does, the less managers know how to prioritize. This same technology puts all information on an equal footing that we find very difficult to sort out.
Technology and its impact on time management
A 2014 study shows that we look at a screen 221 times in a day, up to 6 times an hour, we don’t even realize it anymore, that we can’t go more than 6 minutes without looking at our phone. The problem is that it takes 3 to 5 minutes to concentrate after an interruption. As a result, many managers no longer have time to return calls or e-mails, but they do have time to look at their screen. It’s quite frustrating to ask someone for a reply, not to receive one, to see that the same person posts on Facebook and, when you call them back, they tell you they haven’t had time.
Many managers no longer work on their priorities, but on what appears on their screen and demands a quick and easy response: we manage emergencies, not important things.
The manager’s three solutions
As these managers have 24 hours in the day, they are left with only three solutions: Manage :
- Problems and putting out the fires they let start
- The stress of too much work, with all its consequences
- By priorities, so start with what they think is a priority and leave the rest to chance.
It’s the latter that’s in their best interest to prioritize, but the difficulty, of course, is determining which of these tasks should be given immediate priority, and which should not.
In fact, the discussions begin among managers when it comes to knowing which types of tasks to give priority number 2 to. Important but not urgent tasks? Or urgent but unimportant tasks?
Those who prioritize the urgency of tasks
Those who value urgency over importance have their reasons:
- It’s best to start on urgent tasks, which are generally quick and easy to complete, and give immediate rewards.
- Carrying out small, urgent tasks lets you get rid of what’s stressing you, so you can focus on the important stuff.
- Important tasks can often wait.
Those who value importance
The other group of managers, who favour importance, often find it hard to make themselves heard. Who’s right? Well, they’re the ones who favor importance! That’s right:
- Since we’re all equal when it comes to time (24 hours in the day), the only thing that differentiates us is how we use it, and those who succeed have all devoted themselves to the important things: a company president or a prime minister differ from the rest of us in the nature and importance of their tasks.
- Clearing your mind by completing small, urgent tasks is futile: there will always be new ones to justify not tackling the important ones.
- It’s true that completing small tasks gives immediate rewards, but it’s an excuse to avoid tackling the essential problems.
In the other camp, some may have the ultimate say: - “Yes, but the small tasks that are urgent in relation to our customers, can have serious consequences if they are not carried out.” Well, then they become important and urgent and move up to priority 1!
The important takes precedence over the urgent and distractions
In conclusion, don’t let yourself be distracted by the small, urgent tasks you agree to do out of complacency towards yourself or others.
PRIORITIZE THE IMPORTANT!
IMPORTANT TASKS ARE THOSE THAT ENABLE US TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS WE HAVE SET OURSELVES IN LIFE.
IT’S UP TO YOU: DO YOU WANT TO SPEND YOUR LIFE DOING SMALL, URGENT TASKS, OR TASKS YOU CONSIDER IMPORTANT TO ACHIEVING YOUR LIFE GOALS?
Jean-Pierre Mercier