Message 4: Time Management

As a leader, managing time constraints and communicating these limitations to employees requires skill in both development and delivery. All too often, employees are given a to-do list that far exceeds the time allotted and are told to just get it done. Not only is workload misconstrued, but inflexible and unreasonable expectations are set.

The skill of time management requires leaders to understand real priorities as priorities and to communicate top objectives based on strategies. In this way, employees can manage limited resources and direct energy to the essential tasks.

However, in many cases, leaders convey unclear priorities (or no priorities at all) or communicate unrealistic expectations with respect to goals and objectives. Frustration and failure begin to take over, with results falling short. Time becomes the enemy, and realistic expectations of adjustment do not seem to be present.