Effective Time Management

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? This course provides strategies, techniques and tips to set priorities and manage the daily pressures of meeting important and urgent commitments in your life. The course does not incorporate a standard time management tool or a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, it provides a Time Manager's Toolkit for you to use in developing a personalized time-management system, tailored to your needs and habits. How does this course differ from traditional time management training? This course emphasizes the importance of utilizing a whole-brain approach versus the more restrictive perspective offered by many time management courses. Participants develop a personal vision, set goals and learn to structure their priorities in order to achieve their goals. Who will benefit from this course? Anyone who wants to focus on the important things in their professional and personal lives will find this course beneficial. Both non-managers and managers at all levels will be able to create a personal time-management system that works for them. This course is important for individuals who are not working effectively due to interruptions, excessive meetings, changing priorities, appointments, schedules and deadlines. The tools and techniques presented will help as you build the necessary foundation to further your career. What background do I need? No special background is required for this course. People from all industries can benefit, including technical and non-technical, private and public, military and civilian, small and large organizations. Why is time and priority management important? If you often feel overwhelmed by the many time requirements life demands, this course provides the basic framework to dramatically improve your ability to manage time. Individuals need effective time-management skills to succeed today. Regardless of the position in an organization, success hinges on the effective use of time. Can you really learn to manage your time and priorities? Yes. All of the following ineffective behavior patterns can be overcome: Difficulty saying "no" to a request for your time Procrastinating and losing things Swimming in sticky notes Juggling several things at once Enjoying project start-ups, but finding difficulty completing them Daydreaming often While these behavior patterns are not easy to change, they can be changed with practice. This course provides opportunities for you to create the necessary framework for addressing those factors that work against you. This course helps you dig deeper into your daily schedule and determine areas for improvement. It helps you to minimize or eliminate the obstacles that stand in the way of your goals. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Introduction 0.5 Managing time through self-management principles 2.0 Mapping and analyzing your current situation 2.0 Planning for the future 1.5 Prioritizing and scheduling 3.0 Managing your time day to day 2.0 Getting the best return on your time investment 1.0 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. How much time is devoted to the workshops? You spend 75 to 80 percent of class time in activities, including: Self-assessments Video presentations Self-planning exercises Applying tools and techniques to your own personal situation Group activities and discussions A time-challenge workshop, which synthesizes all the techniques, tips and tools from the course Is this course applicable to a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification? Yes. Although this course is not designed as preparation for the exam, it is beneficial to anyone working toward PMI's PMP certification. For those who are currently certified, completion of this course counts as 11 professional development units (60 units must be completed every three years to maintain certification). For more details, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A. If you are an experienced project manager intending to take the PMP exam, you should take Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam. In this course you learn essential PMBOK® Guide - Third Edition terminology, tools and techniques. You gain practical test-taking experience through PMI-style practice exams and create your own personal study plan for continued use after the course. How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? This course is part of the Learning Tree Management Curriculum. Consider any of the following courses if you want to improve your communication skills and personal effectiveness in the workplace: 244, Assertiveness Skills: Communicating with Authority and Impact offers the skills to develop a positive, assertive style 246, Managing Information Overload: Techniques for Working Smarter provides the skills needed to process fast-paced information to develop a competitive edge. 297, Personal Skills for Professional Excellence offers a proven set of professional skills needed to handle the multiple demands faced in today's high-pressure working environment. 284, Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving provides the skills needed to make better decisions, spur creativity and implement that innovation in a practical way in the workplace. 296, Project Management: Skills for Success offers the skills to produce a project plan for successful delivery 340, Project Management for Software Development provides the skills to deliver successful software projects that support your organization's strategic goals 248, Project Scheduling and Budgeting offers the skills to build schedules and budgets that transform project constraints into project success 294, Influence Skills: Getting Results Without Direct Authority focuses on the specific skills, behaviors and attitudes that enable you to achieve desired results without relying on the use of authority. 292, Communication Skills: Results Through Collaboration emphasizes specific tools and techniques for improving listening skills, delivering effective messages and bridging different communication styles 341, Negotiation Skills: Achieving Successful Outcomes provides the knowledge and skills needed to integrate people and process elements, creating a flexible framework for your negotiation strategies and situations.

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