Peter Drucker, one the most celebrated management minds of the twentieth century, applies the 80/20 rule to time management. Drucker says that managers spend 80% of their time on busy work, and only 20% of their time adding value to the organization. Do you think this is true? Is 80% of our time at work really just wasted?
In management, value flows from effective professional relationships. And face-to-face communication brings relationships to life. So, are we spending our time creating relationships or just keeping busy?
Here’s a test for whether you are spending your time wisely. What’s in front of you more at work, a computer or a person?
When you are in front of a computer, chances are you are doing busy work. Here are some common time wasters:
- Spreadsheets
- Reporting
If you are spending time with people, chances are you are adding value. Leaders add value by:
- Training (show them how)
- Coaching (performance review, goal setting)
- Communicating company vision and strategy
So, spend more time creating value this week. Turn off your computer and ignore the email alerts on your phone. Try to catch your time-wasting patterns, and break them. Talk to customers, associates, peers, and managers. Build the relationships that create real value in the organization.
