This is a reflection on time management, prompted by my own concerns about not keeping up to date with the work on the course, but also some of the course material which is related to project management and effective use of time.
Many of the time management concepts introduced on the course are not new to me. Time is something I am accurtely aware of in my working life in radio. If a programme or news bulletin isn’t ready on time then it is little short of a disaster.
We have a thing called ‘back timing’ in radio which involves, working out when certain contributory tasks have to be carried out in order for the whole thing to be achieved on time. For example, when do you need to start an interview of a specific duration, for it to end with sufficient time to wrap up the show, to hit the pips at the top of the hour.
So yes, I get it … it’s useful to plan your work, and measure it.
But … I am also aware of the misuse of those systems. Where people hold planning meetings for the sake of holding planning meetings.
And … where - the level of the goals matters?
Think of the situation where you set the goals too high because you have high expectations, and so the steps you plan are too great, so you fail.
And the other side of the coin … where the goal is too low, and the steps unchallenging, so you never achieve your aim.
Which begs the following questions..
What are my reasonable goals?
Are my steps achievable?
How do I feel about my results?