How to Achieve Effective Time Management

Time management is important for achieving goals, increasing productivity, improving decision-making, reducing stress, and finding a better work life balance.

Successful time management entails four crucial steps.

1) Goal Setting

Set goals using the SMART method — introduced by Peter Drucker in his framework of MBO, Management by Objectives — which in essence is to make sure that the goals you set are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.

2) Prioritization

Prioritize tasks based on Eisenhower Matrix:

For example, look at your daily tasks and determine which are:

• Important and urgent: Do these tasks right away.
• Important but not urgent: Decide when to do these tasks.
• Urgent but not important: Delegate these tasks if possible.
• Not urgent and not important: Set these aside to do later.

3) Delegation

Delegate as much as you can to free yourself for strategically more important and urgent tasks. When you delegate…