Six Sigma Blogs

Books about time management can be found at nearly every bookstore. It is a popular topic that has piqued the interest of many for a long time. Although the titles may be different, each attempts to contribute contemporary thoughts on improving productivity. The demand for these is driven primarily because many lack the skills needed to be effective time managers, especially in the workplace. It is worth mentioning a few of the more popular ideas that many successful time managers have found effective in the workplace.

Email can be a black hole, sucking time away from you. It doesn’t have to be this way. Successful time managers schedule times during the day when they will read email. Whether you have a day planner or an electronic calendar, schedule hour periods two or three times during the day when you will read your email. People know how to reach you for emergencies. Touch your email once, creating a task for later, addressing the issue immediately, or generating that meeting. Take action on an email as soon as you read it. Keep your responses very brief. Do not reply to the same topic more than twice. At this point pick up the phone and resolve any lengthy details.

Attempting to work on multiple things at once is a skill many refer to as multitasking. Although many believe this to be effective, it is actually counterproductive. Many studies suggest that although one may think they are faster, the amount of work being completed is less than if they focused on one task at a time. Many top managers have improved time management skills by working on one thing at a time. They avoid making mistakes that increase the time needed to complete tasks.

Watch an organized person and witness what they do at the beginning of each day. What you will see is a 15-30 minute review and prioritization of the day’s tasks. These few minutes each day can save you many precious hours. People effective at managing time can accomplish more in a day using a task list than someone who just goes with the flow. Why? Because they minimize disruptions knowing what little time they have to complete the tasks.

Distractions during the day can prevent you from accomplishing your goals. Although not all interruptions can be avoided, they can be managed effectively. First, plan some contingency time during your day for those unexpected disruptions. For those employees that may not respect your time as much as you do, speak with them politely but assertively. Help them know how and when it is best to communicate with you so that you can devote time to your scheduled tasks and meet their needs. Finally, let your phone work for you, not the other way around. Utilize voice mail for those times that are scheduled for key tasks.

AlliedTime can help you get yourself and employees on track and on time, so be sure to visit for a great selection of affordable and reliable time clock and time management systems.

Who dreamed up the concept of the screen saver, anyway? Most of us don’t know that those barking puppies that used to pop up onscreen when our computers were at rest were there for a very specific reason. Some savvy Macintosh aficionados may know that screensavers were invented to serve a technical function. When computers came with monochrome CRT monitors, screensavers prevented phosphor burn-in. Those swimming fish, flying toasters and tail-wagging puppies, were onscreen for more than just entertainment.

But in the years since the invention of the personal computer, Macintosh has changed the computer industry. All computers now have LCD computer monitors instead of CRT monitors. Screensavers because Phosphor burn-in isn’t a concern, so screensavers serve mostly an entertainment function. If your Macintosh is at the office, your screen saver can serve a privacy function, as well, keeping your screen from the eyes of coworkers.

But screen savers can serve a wide variety of functions, including expressing our individuality and taste with our favorite photos and snazzy graphics. Macintosh iCal and Address Book users might want to have a screensaver that’s more functional. The good news is that now they can get one, because PocketMac has invented an application called PocketMac iCalScreenSaver. It projects all of your iCal appointments as your screen saver when your computer’s resting. It can also project your iCal calendar in a daily format, or a weekly format, until your entire month’s schedule has been cycled onscreen. You can also have your screensaver display your Address Book contacts.

Also, you can have PocketMac iCalScreenSaver displayed in four individual color schemes: sunset, blue-grey, tangerine and green. And you get the option of choosing which calendars you want to display on your iCal screen saver. Your business appointments can show up onscreen at the office and your personal appointments can appear when you’re at home, if that’s what you want. You can also exclude personal appointments from your iCal screensaver.

It’s really simple to install PocketMac iCalScreenSaver on your Macintosh.