The Power of Process Improvement in Time Management

You've heard it before: We all have the same 24 hours in a day; it's how we choose to use that precious time that makes all the difference. The same thing can be said of the work day. What we accomplish while we're in the office is less a function of how much time we spend there and more a function of how efficiently we use that time. And that is why there are so many books, Web sites, and tutorials on how to manage time more effectively—there is little more important for running a profitable business.

 

So, how can you get better at time management? Well, there are a number of things you can do, but one that frequently gets overlooked in organizations is business process improvement. As a matter of fact, we tend to put process management and time management in separate boxes, viewing them as different topics entirely. The truth is, however, that improving business processes can have a dramatic effect on better time management. When your processes become more efficient, you have time freed up to do other things. If you find yourself in a situation which you are accomplishing more without realizing how you're doing it, chances are that it has something to do with improvements you've made in your business processes.

 

Have you ever wondered what you could accomplish if you had an extra day in your work? Of course you have! Who hasn't? But, here's the thing: you actually can add an extra day to your week. If you can reexamine your process and reduce the amount of time you spend on your workflow by 20 percent, you have an extra day! And believe me, that's doable. Have you considered taking another look at your processes, lately? If not, what's stopping you? Time is ticking!