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Time
Management Tips
~ 5 Ways
Introverts Can Supercharge Their Productivity
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Time management tips are the ultimate
energy tools. To select the right tools for your energy type, take the quiz
below. If you discover you are an introvert, prepare to magnify your
effectiveness by using time strategies designed to capitalize on your unique
attributes.
According to Marti Olsen Lani, author of The Introvert Advantage, introvert
strengths include independence, capacity to work well in one-to-one situations,
ability to concentrate closely on tasks, creativity, and capacity to analyze
systems.
If you are introverted, your experience of time may differ dramatically from
that of your extroverted colleagues. So apply your creativity and originality to
making the most of time in ways that celebrate your uniqueness.
Quiz: Do You Possess an Introvert Time and Energy Temperament?
T/F: I think through what I need to say before speaking.
T/F: When working with others, I can run out of energy with no warning.
T/F: My creativity is fueled through solitude.
If you answer these questions with "True", then the 5 tips in this article apply
directly to you. Briefly stated, your introvert strength multiplies when you
remove distractions and look inward. At the same time, you need to protect your
energy in situations that extroverts find regenerative.
5 Ways Introverts Can Supercharge Their Productivity
Time Tip#1: Estimate your "battery life" for group interchanges and plan
accordingly.
How long can you engage at top capacity in a large group situation? Plan how you
can obtain 'time outs' to recharge your internal batteries before walking into
challenging situations. (Introverts can find it difficult to monitor and
safeguard their reserves while absorbed in demanding interchanges.) Your exit
strategies may include volunteering for tasks that temporarily remove you from
the fray, or that allow you to record rather than directly engage in
interactions.
Time Tip#2: Schedule private time between group activities whenever possible.
Restorative sips of time are an excellent investment in your effectiveness. If a
relaxed, solitary interlude is not possible, consider taking small breaks of
five to ten minutes between meetings, if only to make photocopies or fetch
supplies. While on your own, conduct a quick body scan and progressively relax
tense muscles, while taking a few deep breaths.
Time Tip#3: Structure collaborations as one-on-one interchanges whenever
possible.
Identify which individuals you work with most easily, and ask if they would be
willing to serve as point persons to report findings to groups. Volunteer to
cover responsibilities you find less taxing, in return. When you must discuss
issues within a group, explore the possibilities of teleconferencing. This
reduces the intensity of stimulus you are exposed to.
Time Tip#4: Know your "solitary strengths" and capitalize on them.
Invest your time in your areas of personal strength. Consider your appetite for
research, experimentation and innovation. Are there areas of exploration in
which your persistence serves as a valuable asset? The more detailed your
understanding of how you can best contribute to group endeavors, the more
capably you can engage in ways that don't drain you.
Time Tip#5: Commit to checking in as regularly as needed through email and
notes.
You can send memos with your comments and suggestions after meetings. Alert your
coworkers in advance as to how and when they can expect to hear from you.
Remember, your extroverted colleagues may feel stranded if you withdraw without
providing a context.
Comprehension fuels creativity, so always be on the lookout for new
possibilities as you explore your unique relationship with time.
So now, ask yourself: How can you customize your time use today to jump-start
your personal productivity?
About the Author
Coach Paula Eder, Ph.D., The Time Finder Expert,
has 35 years of success helping individuals and small businesses align time
with values. For free Time Templates + Time Tips, visit
Finding Time
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