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15 Time Management Tips (Rodger Constandse)

1. Write things down

A common time management mistake is to try to use your memory to keep track of toomany details leading to information overload. Using a to-do list to write things down is a

great way to take control of your projects and tasks and keep yourself organized.

2. Prioritize your list

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you focus and spend more of your time on the things thatreally matter to you. Rate your tasks into categories using the ABCD prioritization

system described in the time management course.

3. Plan your week

Spend some time at the beginning of each week to plan your schedule. Taking the extra

time to do this will help increase your productivity and balance your important long-termprojects with your more urgent tasks. All you need is fifteen to thirty minutes each week

for your planning session.

4. Carry a notebook

You never know when you are going to have a great idea or brilliant insight. Carry asmall notebook with you wherever you go so you can capture your thoughts. If you wait

too long to write them down you could forget. Another option is to use a digital recorder.

5. Learn to say no

Many people become overloaded with too much work because they over commit; they

say yes when they really should be saying no. Learn to say no to low priority requests andyou will free up time to spend on things that are more important.

6. Think before acting

How many times have you said yes to something you later regretted? Before committing

to a new task, stop to think about it before you give your answer. This will prevent youfrom taking on too much work.


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7. Continuously improve yourself

Make time in your schedule to learn new things and develop your natural talents and

abilities. For example, you could take a class, attend a training program, or read a book.Continuously improving your knowledge and skills increases your marketability, can

help boost your career, and is the most reliable path to financial independence.

8. Think about what you are giving up to do your regular activities

It is a good idea to evaluate regularly how you are spending your time. In some cases, thebest thing you can do is to stop doing an activity that is no longer serving you so you can

spend the time doing something more valuable. Consider what you are giving up in order

to maintain your current activities.

9. Use a time management system

Using a time management system can help you keep track of everything that you need todo, organize and prioritize your work, and develop sound plans to complete it. An

integrated system is like glue that holds all the best time management practices together.

10. Identify bad habits

Make a list of bad habits that are stealing your time, sabotaging your goals, and blockingyour success. After you do, work on them one at a time and systematically eliminate

them from your life. Remember that the easiest way to eliminate a bad habit, it to replace

it with a better habit.

11. Dont do other peoples work

Are you in the habit of doing other peoples work because or a hero mentality? Doingthis takes up time that you may not have. Instead, focus on your own projects and goals,

learn to delegate effectively, and teach others how to do their own work.

12. Keep a goal journal

Schedule time to set and evaluate your goals. Start a journal and write down your

progress for each goal. Go through your goal journal each week to make sure you are onthe right track.

Keeping a journal on your computer has never been easier!


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13. Dont be a perfectionist

Some tasks dont require your best effort. Sending a short email to a colleague, for

example, shouldnt take any more than a few minutes. Learn to distinguish between tasksthat deserve to be done excellently and tasks that just need to be done.

14. Beware of filler tasks

When you have a to-do list filled with important tasks, be careful not to get distracted by

filler tasks. Things such as organizing your bookcase or filing papers can wait until youtackle the items that have the highest priority.

15. Avoid efficiency traps

Being efficient doesnt necessarily mean that you are being productive. Avoid taking ontasks that you can do with efficiency that dont need to be done at all. Just because you

are busy and getting things done doesnt mean you are actually accomplishing anythingsignificant.


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Problem Solving

Problem solving is a natural part of life. In any business or industry, the ability of an

employee to solve problems can mean the difference between success and failure.Lacking the ability to solve problems effectively can be a source of anxiety and stress for

any individual. Problem solving is not an exact science, although there are guidelines that

a person can follow to become a successful problem-solver.Flexibility and open-mindedness is an essential part of being able to solve problems,

whether it is in your personal life or on-the-job. Possessing advantageous problem

solving skills requires a person to understand the problem, create a plan to solve theproblem, seeing the plan through and reviewing the plan to ensure that the problem is

solved and is not repeated. When a person has difficulty imagining a solution to a

problem, it is because he is overwhelmed with the details of the problem and lacks the

ability to break down the problem or see the big picture.

The problem solving articles in this section will help you alleviate and solve some of themore common issues related to solving problems. Information on brainstorming, critical

thinking, innovation, lateral thinking, strategies and creativity are all useful techniques

that can assist an individual to become better at solving problems.

Introduction to Problem Solving

Introduction To Problem Solving If you are like some people you would love to have theability to easily solve problems. Problems are a fact of life. Everyone one has them and it

doesn t matter whether you re rich or poor. All of us have problems that we must deal

with on a daily basis.

Problem Solving Techniques

Problem Solving Techniques We are all faced with problems everyday. Learning how toeffectively deal with them is what will mean the difference between success and failure.While there are no universally accepted methods that can be used to help you solve

problems there are a number of useful techniques.

How to Properly Approach a Problem

How To Properly Approach a Problem When many people attempt to solve a problem

they make the mistake of placing an emphasis on either the problem or solution. Toproperly solve problems it is very important to make sure you take the right approach.

The approach you use for a problem is often connected to the solution....

Wicked Problems

Wicked Problems Many problems in math or puzzles can be solved with a number of

different methods such as trial and error brainstorming and reductionism. Many of theseproblems could be called static or well defined.
http://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/introduction-to-problem-solving.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/problem-solving-techniques.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-to-properly-approach-a-problem.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-to-properly-approach-a-problem.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/wicked-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/problem-solving-techniques.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-to-properly-approach-a-problem.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/wicked-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/introduction-to-problem-solving.html


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The Use of Trial and Error to Solve Problems

The Use of Trial and Error to Solve Problems Some complex problems can be solved bya technique that is called trial and error. Trial and error is typically good for problems

where you have multiple chances to get the correct solution. However this is not a good

technique for problems that don t give you multiple chances to find a solution.

The Importance of Reductionism in the Problem Solving Process

The Importance of Reductionism in the Problem Solving Process Reductionism is a typeof philosophy that can be applied to the problem solving process. It basically states that

complex objects can be simplified in a way that makes them easier to understand.

The Connection between Innovation and Problem SolvingThe Connection between Innovation and Problem Solving Innovation can be defined as

the ability to create something new based on knowledge that has been attained. In order

for something to be new it must be radically different from things which are already in

existence. The nature of innovation is important when it comes to problem solving.

How Lateral Thinking Can Be Used to Solve ProblemsHow Lateral Thinking Can Be Used To Solve Problems Lateral thinking is a problem

solving technique that was developed by Edward de Bono. It can be defined as methods

which are used to alter the perception of a problem. Lateral thinking is a technique that

requires large amounts of reasoning.

Problem Solving Strategies

Problem Solving Strategies The ability to be flexible is one of the most important aspectsof problem solving. All of us have problems that differ from each other. However it is the

strategies that a person uses to solve problems which will lead to either success or failure.

How to Effectively Solve Problems

How To Effectively Solve Problems when you are faced with a difficult problem you

may need the help of someone else. In some situations the problem may require you tocreate a plan which can help you solve it. If you are in a situation like this there are a

number of things you can do to effectively solve the problem.

How Role Playing Can Help You Solve ProblemsHow Role Playing Can Help You Solve Problems The use of role playing to solve

problems is composed of multiple methods. Many of these methods involve using your

mind in order create a different reality. These techniques will allow you to place anemphasis on what you desire rather than what you already have.

How Problem Solving Can Help You in MathHow Problem Solving Can Help You in Math is a subject which is hated by many people.

This is unfortunate because mathematics lays down the foundation for all of the

technology we have today. Computers cell phones cars and space shuttles would not exist

if it were not for mathematics.
http://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/the-use-of-trial-and-error-to-solve-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/the-importance-of-reductionism-in-the-problem-solving-process.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/the-connection-between-innovation-and-problem-solving.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-lateral-thinking-can-be-used-to-solve-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/problem-solving-strategies.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-to-effectively-solve-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-role-playing-can-help-you-solve-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-role-playing-can-help-you-solve-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-problem-solving-can-help-you-in-math.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/the-use-of-trial-and-error-to-solve-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/the-importance-of-reductionism-in-the-problem-solving-process.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/the-connection-between-innovation-and-problem-solving.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-lateral-thinking-can-be-used-to-solve-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/problem-solving-strategies.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-to-effectively-solve-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-role-playing-can-help-you-solve-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-problem-solving-can-help-you-in-math.html


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Creative Problem Solving

Creative Problem Solving Creative problem solving is a method used in situations whereknowledge and thinking are not enough. Using creativity to solve a problem can be

extremely challenging and will take large amounts of effort on the part of those who are

trying to solve the problem.

How Brainstorming Can Help You Solve Problems

How Brainstorming Can Help You Solve Problems Brainstorming is one of the mostcreative ways of solving problems. However brainstorming may not always be used to

solve a single problem. It is sometimes used to come up with a list of possible solutions

that can be used to solve a problem.

How Critical Thinking Can Help You Solve Problems

How Critical Thinking Can Help You Solve Problems Critical thinking is a process in

which a person will use their mind to analyze or study information. The information that

is studied will typically be offered as something that is absolute. However the person thatis studying will reason on it in order to determine if they are in agreement with it.

(http://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving.html)
http://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/creative-problem-solving.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-brainstorming-can-help-you-solve-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-critical-thinking-can-help-you-solve-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/creative-problem-solving.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-brainstorming-can-help-you-solve-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving/how-critical-thinking-can-help-you-solve-problems.htmlhttp://www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving.html


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Brainstorming process

Brainstorming technique for problem-solving, team-building and creative process

Brainstorming with a group of people is a powerful technique.Brainstorming creates new ideas, solves problems, motivates anddevelops teams. Brainstorming motivates because it involves membersof a team in bigger management issues, and it gets a team workingtogether. However, brainstorming is not simply a random activity.Brainstorming needs to be structured and it follows brainstormingrules. The brainstorming process is described below, for which you willneed a flip-chart or alternative. This is crucial as Brainstorming needs

to involve the team, which means that everyone must be able to seewhat's happening. Brainstorming places a significant burden on thefacilitator to manage the process, people's involvement andsensitivities, and then to manage the follow up actions. UseBrainstorming well and you will see excellent results in improving theorganization, performance, and developing the team.

N.B. There has been some discussion in recent years - much of itplainly daft - that the term 'brainstorming' might be 'political incorrect'by virtue of possible perceived reference to brain-related health issues.It was suggested by some that the alternative, but less than catchy

'thought-showers' should be used instead, which presumably was notconsidered to be offensive to raindrops (this is serious). Happilyrecent research among relevant groups has dispelled this non-pcnotion, and we can continue to use the brainstorming expressionwithout fear of ending up in the law courts

Brainstorming process

1. Define and agree the objective.2. Brainstorm ideas and suggestions having agreed a time

limit.3. Categorize/condense/combine/refine.4. Assess/analyze effects or results.5. Prioritize options/rank list as appropriate.6. Agree action and timescale.7. Control and monitor follow-up.


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In other words:

Plan and agree the brainstorming aim

Ensure everyone participating in the brainstorm session understandsand agrees the aim of the session (e.g., to formulate a new jobdescription for a customer services clerk; to formulate a series of newpromotional activities for the next trading year; to suggest ways ofimproving cooperation between the sales and service departments; toidentify costs saving opportunities that will not reduce performance ormorale, etc). Keep the brainstorming objective simple. Allocate a timelimit. This will enable you to keep the random brainstorming activity

under control and on track.

Manage the actual brainstorming activity

Brainstorming enables people to suggest ideas at random. Your job asfacilitator is to encourage everyone to participate, to dismiss nothing,and to prevent others from pouring scorn on the wilder suggestions(some of the best ideas are initially the daftest ones - added to whichpeople won't participate if their suggestions are criticized). During therandom collection of ideas the facilitator must record every suggestion

on the flip-chart. Use Blu-Tack or sticky tape to hang the sheets aroundthe walls. At the end of the time limit or when ideas have beenexhausted, use different colored pens to categorize, group, connectand link the random ideas. Condense and refine the ideas by makingnew headings or lists. You can diplomatically combine or include theweaker ideas within other themes to avoid dismissing or rejectingcontributions (remember brainstorming is about team building andmotivation too - you don't want it to have the reverse effect on somepeople). With the group, assess, evaluate and analyze the effects andvalidity of the ideas or the list. Develop and prioritize the ideas into amore finished list or set of actions or options.

Implement the actions agreed from thebrainstorming

Agree what the next actions will be. Agree a timescale, who'sresponsible. After the session circulate notes, monitor and givefeedback. It's crucial to develop a clear and positive outcome, so that


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people feel their effort and contribution was worthwhile. When peoplesee that their efforts have resulted in action and change, they will bemotivated and keen to help again.

Personal brainstorming

For creativity, planning, presentations, decision-making,and organizing your ideas

Personal brainstorming - just by yourself - is very useful for the start ofany new project, especially if you can be prone to put things off untiltomorrow.

Planning a new venture, a presentation, or any new initiative, is

generally much easier if you begin simply by thinking of ideas - in noparticular order or structure - and jotting them down on a sheet ofpaper or in a notebook. Basically this is personal brainstorming, and itcan follow the same process as described above for groups, exceptthat it's just you doing it.

Sometimes it's very difficult to begin planning something new -because you don't know where and how to start. Brainstorming is agreat way to begin. The method also generates lots of possibilitieswhich you might otherwise miss by getting into detailed structuredplanning too early.

A really useful tool for personal brainstorming -and note-taking generally - is the wonderful Bic4-colour ball pen.

The pen enables you quickly to switch colorsbetween red, blue, black and green, withouthaving to walk around with a pocket-full of biros.

Using different colors in your creative jottingsand written records helps you to make yournotes and diagrams clearer, and dramaticallyincreases the ways in which you can developand refine your ideas and notes on paper. Toprove the point, review some previous notes inblack or blue ink using a red pen - see how youcan organize/connect the content, still keeping it


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all clear and legible.

This simple pen is therefore a brilliant tool fororganizing your thoughts on paper much moreclearly and creatively than by being limited to a

single color - especially if you think in visualterms and find diagrams helpful.

For example, using different colors enables youto identify and link common items within arandom list, or to show patterns and categories,or to over-write notes without making aconfusing mess, and generally to generate farmore value from your thoughts and ideas.Keeping connected notes and ideas on a singlesheet of paper greatly helps the brain to absorb

and develop them. Try it - you'll be surprisedhow much more useful your notes become.

The principle is the same as using differentcolors of marker pens on a flip-chart. Othermanufacturers produce similar pens, but the Bicis reliable, widely available, and veryinexpensive.

The usefulness of different colors in written notes is further illustratedin a wider organizational sense in the UK health industry. Apparently,

black is the standard color; green is used by pharmacy services, red isused after death and for allergies, and blue tends to be avoided due topoorer reprographic qualities any other examples of different coloredinks being used to organize or otherwise clarify writtencommunications within corporations, institutions or industries.

Additionally (T Kalota, Oct 2008) of a useful brainstorming/organizingtechnique using colored pens when reviewing a written specification,or potentially any set of notes for a design or plan.

Underline or circle the words according to the following:

nouns/people/things black (entities)

verbs ('doing'/functionalwords)

red (relationships)

adjectives/adverbs(describing words)

blue (attributes)


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This technique was apparently used for clarifying written specificationsor notes for a database design, and was termed 'extended relationalarchitecture', advocated by a company of the same name, at one time.

]

This method of color-coding notes (using underlines or circles or boxes)to help clarification/prioritization/organization/etc can itself naturally beextended and adapted, for example:

nouns/people/things black (entities)

verbs ('doing'/functionalwords)

red (relationships)

adjectives (describing anoun/thing/etc)

blue (attributes)

adverbs (describing averb/function)

green (degrees/range/etc)

timings/costs/quantities yellow (measures)

The colors and categories are not a fixed industry standard. It's anentirely flexible technique. You can use any colors you want, anddevise your own coding structures to suit the situation.


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1. Write the title of the subject you're exploring in the center of the page, and draw a

circle around it.

2. As you come across major subdivisions or subheadings of the topic (or importantfacts that relate to the subject) draw lines out from this circle. Label these lines

with these subdivisions or subheadings.

3. As you "burrow" into the subject and uncover another level of information(further subheadings, or individual facts) belonging to the subheadings above,

draw these as lines linked to the subheading lines.

4. Finally, for individual facts or ideas, draw lines out from the appropriate headingline and label them.

As you come across new information, link it in to the Mind Map appropriately.

A complete Mind Map may have main topic lines radiating in all directions from the

center. Sub-topics and facts will branch off these, like branches and twigs from the trunk

of a tree. You do not need to worry about the structure produced, as this will evolve as

you develop your mind map.

While drawing Mind Maps by hand is appropriate in many cases, software tools like

MindGenius improve the process by helping to you to produce presentation quality

Concept Maps, which can easily be edited, distributed and redrafted.

Improving your Mind Maps

Once you understand how to make notes in the Mind Map format, you can develop yourown conventions to take them further. The following suggestions may help to increase

their effectiveness:

Use single words or simple phrases for information: Most words in normalwriting are padding: They convey facts in the correct context, and in a format that

is pleasant to read. In your own Mind Maps, single strong words and meaningful

phrases can convey the same meaning more potently. Excess words just clutter

the Mind Map.

Print words: Joined up or indistinct writing can be more difficult to read.

Use color to separate different ideas: This will help you to separate ideas where

necessary. It also makes your Mind Map easier to remember. Color also helps to

show the organization of the subject.

Use symbols and images: Where a symbol or picture means something to you, use

it. Pictures can help you to remember information more effectively than words.

Using cross-linkages: Information in one part of the Mind Map may relate to

another part. Here you can draw in lines to show the cross-linkages. This helps

you to see how one part of the subject connects with another.
http://www.mindgenius.com/?i=36025http://www.mindgenius.com/?i=36025


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Key points:

Mind Mapping is an extremely effective method of taking notes. Mind Maps show not

only facts, but also the overall structure of a subject and the relative importance ofindividual parts of it. They help you to associate ideas and make connections that you

might not otherwise make. (http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_01.htm)
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_01.htmhttp://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_01.htm


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Writing your student / graduate CV

This section will teach you how to prepare student / graduate CVs. Generally you will

find the layout described here will work for you.

But, you might also want to try the targeted or functional CV layouts.

Please feel free to add other sections as required or change the ordering of later sections

to suit your skills and abilities.

Profile/Summary

This should be a short summary of your experience, skills and abilities, and be containedin four to six lines of text. Only list the attributes that will be of interest to an employer;

do not include irrelevancies.

Achievements

A lot of students/graduates won't have an achievements section, because you won't haveanything to write here. If you can think of some achievements please list 3 to 6

achievements which you feel will be in line with your next position. Do not list

achievements which are not in line with what you want to do next. Bullet point yourachievements to make them stand out. Start with the strongest point in your favour and

then work backwards from there.

Education/QualificationsOnly list the most important qualifications. If you are a graduate you do not have to listall your 'O' Levels/GCSEs, you can just indicate the number of 'O' levels gained.

Experience

This should be in reverse chronological order starting with your most recent job and

working backwards. You only need to include the year you started and the year youfinished each job. You do not need to include the month or day, e.g. put 2002 - 2004

rather than 1.8.2002 - 4.6.2004. If you have had a lot of jobs you may need to group some

of the earlier jobs together, e.g. '1999 - 2000 various engineering positions'.

If your job title does not reflect what you actually did, or it sounds a bit obscure, considerchanging it. For example, if you worked as a Sales Representative and your job title

(given to you by your company) was Customer Home Representative, you would be well

advised to change your title to that of Sales Representative.


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When you are describing your experience for each position you should start with the

strongest point in your favor and then work backwards. If you have a lot of points to put

under one specific job you may want to break this description into two or more sections.You could break up this section into responsibilities and achievements or you could break

it up into specific functions, e.g. management, sales & marketing; the choice is yours.

If you have had a number of positions for a particular employer you may not want to

include every individual job (in which case leave out the year designations for all jobstitles and just include the start and finish years for this employer), or you may be able to

combine one or more of the jobs. If the jobs are completely unrelated you may be better

off using a Functional or Targeted CV.

Make sure you stress your responsibilities and achievements under each job which willbe useful in your next job, but do not repeat information in your CV as this will just bore

the reader.

Additional Information

Include any additional information, such as whether you have a driving licence - if you

have a clean driving licence, say so. Date of birth, marital status and nationality can

usually be left off your CV.

Interests

Keep this part fairly short, but make sure you list any current positions of responsibility.

If you do not currently have any management responsibility and you are applying for a

management position you may want to include positions of responsibility that you haveheld over the last few years, e.g. Captain of a local football team.

Referees

You should include two referees, one of which should be an academic reference, e.g.

your personal tutor, while the second reference could be from an employer you have

worked for. The postcode should normally be included in the address


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http://www.brainstorming.co.uk/tutorials/creativethinking.html

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