I am just putting the finishing touches on 20 videos that I put together to answer many of the questions that I get on time management here on the blog, or in my live programs.
I realized that when someone takes a time management program, they might already be working on implementing some new habits.
These habits might have come from a prior program, a book, a website or just their own discovery but it’s probably a mistake for anyone trying to teach them a new system to convince them to “fuhgetaboudit” (forget about it.)
The first big mistake is to assume that the system they are currently using doesn’t exist. This is one that I have mentioned more than a few times on this blog.
The second mistake is to think that they have not already been engaged in upgrading their current system. The chances are that if they are smart, they are not thinking about time management for the first time in their lives, and already have some habits that are half-formed.
The key is to figure out which ones are being learned, and to determine whether or not they should be turned into full fledged habits as part of a Master Habit Plan.
What’s a Master Habit Plan?
Well, I just made the term up a few minutes ago, but it’s something that I have been writing about here on the blog. It’s simply a list of the habits that are:
- being implemented
- under consideration for the future
- planned for future implementation with set practice dates
As these habits are put in place, they steadily upgrade a time management system in a way that makes sense and increases the chances for success.
[email_link]
We are facing a very similar situation in the software development industry. In short: some years ago it was all about either heavyweight processes (like GTD and other full-fledged time management systems) or nothing.
In the last years we have realized what you are writing in this blog: it all depends on the context. Now the “bleeding edge” theory is that the winning approach is not a transition to a fixed and detailed process, but more like a design of the process more suitable in the current context by choosing the right *practices* and focusing on the *execution* of the *foudamentals*.
Manuel
hmmm… “all or nothing” time management systems. I agree.
I am a bit reluctant to call this thinking “bleeding edge” at time because it’s a obvious in other industries like the open source movement. It’s built on making small improvements at a time. I just checked out the new version of Outlook and was quite disappointed at how little is evolving, by contrast.
Inventors of the “fixed and detailed processes” that you described are in a bind — the only alternative they have is to give more and more detailed prescriptions (which apply to fewer and fewer people.)
It’s much better to admit the truth — no-one is implementing ALL of any fixed system, and everyone is doing their own thing to some degree.
IMHO, that’s where they need help the most.
How can we they get help to make their “own thing” more of a Picasso and less of a Frankenstein? LOL
Thanks for the comment — it’s a great one, and you may be well ahead of the curve here.
I agree with you. In software industry the best way to help people (teams) make a Picasso IMHO is a coach: someone that has experience and passion in the foudamentals, so that he can correctly assess the situation, propose the most useful practices and effectively train (by example) the team. I think that with time management it is the same.
Agreed.
However, I have also seen poor coaching — “follow what I do and don’t ask questions” mentality.
That’s the worst.
Somehow, time management hasn’t kept up with the best practices in training, adult learning or coaching. Not sure why…
This is one of the issues I address in my upcoming 20 video series. But I only have the time to mention it in passing, and give a quick solution. Hopefully that’s enough for many people.
I’d love to see us all break out of the fixed, all or nothing mentality we have gotten ourselves into. I think I’d retire at that point from time management stuff and do something else!
Sadly, not only the time management field…
However, nice job!