response paper
Failing to manage your time effectively
can have some very undesirable
consequences:
Missed deadlines.
Inefficient work flow.
Poor work quality.
A poor professional reputation and a
stalled career.
Higher stress levels
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1 Are the tasks you work on during the day the ones with the highest priority?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
2 Do you find yourself completing tasks at the last minute, or asking for
extensions?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
3 Do you set aside time for planning and scheduling?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
4 Do you know how much time you are spending on the various jobs you do?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
5 How often do you find yourself dealing with interruptions?
to start.)
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
#
6 Do you use goal setting to decide what tasks and activities you should work
on?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
7 Do you leave contingency time in your schedule to deal with “the unexpected”?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
8 Do you know whether the tasks you are working on are high, medium, or low
value?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
9 When you are given a new assignment, do you analyze it for importance and
prioritize it accordingly?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
10 Are you stressed about deadlines and commitments?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
#
11 Do distractions often keep you from working on critical tasks?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
12 Do you find you have to take work home, in order to get it done?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
13 Do you prioritize your “To Do” list or Action Program?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
14 Do you regularly confirm your priorities with your boss?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
15 Before you take on a task, do you check that the results will be worth the time
put in?
Not at All Rarely sometimes Often very Often
(1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) (4 ) ( 5 )
#
Comment
46-75 You’re managing your time very effectively! Still, check the
sections below to see if there’s anything you can tweak to make this
even better.
31-45 You’re good at some things, but there’s room for improvement
elsewhere. Focus on the serious issues below, and you’ll most likely
find that work becomes much less stressful.
15-30 Ouch. The good news is that you’ve got a great opportunity to
improve your effectiveness at work, and your long term success!
However, to realize this, you’ve got to fundamentally improve your
time management skills. (Read below to start.)
