In all organizations, we are bound by the scarcity of certain resources. Whether it is money, materials, or staff, we always feel like we need more to make things happen. While these resources are definitely restricting, there is one resource that is even more pressing. Time.
There is no way to capture time and use it later. There is no carryover, no surplus. Just the fleeting tick of the clock that represents what was possible. We need to manage our time effectively, which means knowing where it is going. Only when we know where the time goes can we ask the questions that ultimately help us get the important work done.
What would happen if this was not done at all?
Which of these activities would be done just as well or better by someone else?
What do I do that wastes the time of others?
Reflecting on these questions can reveal powerful truths about how we use our time and can lead to changes that allow us to get the important things done while being a little less stressed.