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August 9, 2019

The Art of Time Mastery: How to Manage Time More Efficiently

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The concept of productivity started gaining the attention of media during the 1990s because of the rise in automation and computer technology. Business owners and policymakers recognized the benefits that productivity measures were having on their respective workplaces. As a result, the concept of time mastery started to emerge. The goal of time mastery is to leverage both an owner’s effort and employee effort to be more productive – because productivity creates efficiencies that lead to greater profits as a business grows and expands.

Time is relative as it is perceived differently from one individual to the other. Let’s run through some questions prepared from TTI Success Insights:

  • I commit to completing a task or activity by placing it on my calendar for an exact date and time. True | False

  • I track and measure how long each of my activities takes and what result I have gotten from them in relationship to my highest-level outcomes. True | False

  • I am clear about what I want to achieve this year and in the next 3 years, and my team and my closest family members are also clear about what I want to achieve. True | False

  • I properly prioritize my activities each day. True | False

  • I have been told I am skilled at delegating to others those tasks and activities that they can do better than I can. True | False

  • I am able to focus on my most important activities and don’t allow myself to become distracted from them very often. True | False

  • I rarely procrastinate my highest 2 priorities each day. True | False

  • I rarely feel or think that I have “taken on too much”. True | False

  • I rarely feel “overwhelmed”. True | False

  • I reach my highest priority goals consistently, and in a way that brings me deeply satisfying accomplishments. True | False

So, what is your assessment?

If you marked 2 to 3 statements as false then continue reading if you want to learn the art of time mastery.

We are all familiar with the accomplishments of innovators like Steve Jobs, and Elon Musk. None of them had more time than most of us to build their global companies. However, these individuals understood the importance of time mastery and used their skills to drive the impact that they had.

Certain individuals who have come to understand the art of time mastery never complain about “the lack of time”, or the complexity of time itself. Instead, they plan and progress accordingly to drive great results.

More often than not, time management issues aren't the fault of time itself, rather it’s our inability to manage it properly. As such, through this article, we are aiming to help you understand “the art of time mastery”.

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What is “The Art of Time Mastery”?

Time Mastery is closely associated with time management; however, different from time management, it tries to identify self-management issues relative to time. For example, as a business owner, do you find yourself doing your employee's tasks? Would you save time if those tasks were delegated to someone else? These issues are common and can stagnate the growth of a company. Identifying and preventing them should be the priority of any business owner - hence why the art of time mastery is a very important concept to understand.

Time mastery can be segregated into three main areas:

  • Self Mastery

  • Planning Mastery

  • Delegation Mastery

Self Mastery

We have already defined self-mastery to some degree. The idea of becoming aware of where you’re spending your time will ultimately determine your company's level of success. As the business owner, you need to be occupied with the $200 per hour jobs while others take care of the lower end tasks. Don't waste time doing tasks that are not your responsibility.

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Planning Mastery

Identifying flaws in your time management skills is only the first step in the process of mastering time. The second step is to plan processes that are designed to minimize those flaws. During this process, you may start thinking of hiring new individuals, adopting a time tracking software that helps you manage time or - in the worst-case scenario - redesigning your business model as a whole. In the case of staff shortage, hiring new employees can take certain duties off your plate. However, in the absence of resources, adopting a time tracking software can save time and money.

Why adopt a time tracking software?

In today’s digital economy, identifying the right time tracking software can be a real struggle.

What should I be looking for?

As a beginner, it is always suggested to start simple. Find a time tracking solution that is easy and simple to use. Most time tracking solutions offer the basic time tracking and reporting features; however, if you are a company hiring remote workers then location tracking is an incredible tool to have.

Location Tracking

Real-time GPS location tracking is truly incredible. Imagine having the ability to accurately determine where your employees clocked in or out from!

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As the administrator, you have the ability to differentiate between different job sites by simply choosing the location of the job site on the map and selecting a diameter in which employees can navigate. However, the power of these apps doesn’t stop here!

Accurate Timesheets

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Timesheets could be one of those tasks that take up much of your time. Using time tracking apps you carry the power to generate any timesheet in a matter of seconds. A simple click of a button will convert all-time data into a compatible document for you to view across your devices - be that a laptop or a mobile device.

Whether you choose to hire a new employee or use time tracking software, it is important to recognize how those are contributing to your time management skills.

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Delegation Mastery

Delegation starts after you have developed a clear understanding of how you and your team manage time. After hiring an extra employee or adopting a time tracking software, you should have the information necessary to delegate tasks to the person who can finish them in time. No more excuses, and certainly no more “doing low priority tasks.”

The art of time mastery is designed to help you come to terms with your current time management skills. Remember the steps and start implementing them:

  1. Focus on the outcome,
  2. Educate yourself on time management,
  3. Monitor and measure Time,
  4. Delegate low priority tasks, and
  5. Operate based on your plans.

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