Six slam-dunk time management tips

By Robert Half International

(CareerBuilder.com) -- The basketball court and the office may have more in common than you think. After all, one key to top performance in both arenas is time management. Keeping a careful eye on the clock can help your team sink buzzer-beating shots and allow you to work more effectively.

But properly managing your time isn't always easy, especially if last-minute projects or requests seem to constantly pop up. Even star players sometimes have trouble prioritizing competing demands. In fact, in a recent survey conducted by Robert Half International, executives cited time management as the greatest challenge they face today.

Whether you're a time-tested veteran or a promising rookie, the following tips will help you manage your time better:

Create a to-do list.

At the end of each day, invest some time in identifying and writing down the next day's tasks and rank them in terms of importance and urgency. Review your prioritized to-do list in the morning to get a good jump on the day.

Develop a system.

Tracking systems can help you stay on point. Options include project-management software programs, which electronically track activities and deadlines, and "tickler" files that remind you of pending items. And, of course, there's always a good old-fashioned planner, which you can use to write down each project on your plate, its status and the next steps you need to take. Choose whichever option you are most likely to stick with. By systematically monitoring your progress, you'll be less likely to procrastinate or overlook important dates and details.

Clean up.

How many times have you searched frantically for an important document only to find it days later, buried under outdated memos, take-out menus and sticky notes? Schedule time once a week to remove clutter from your office so you can work more efficiently. Go through documents and separate the critical from the unimportant. Once you've categorized an item, file it, forward it or trash it -- just don't leave it to collect dust on your desk.

Don't overextend yourself.

For instance, you can't write a detailed memo while simultaneously talking on the phone, filing paperwork and thinking about an upcoming brainstorming session. When working on a crucial assignment, give the issue at hand your undivided attention so you do it right the first time. Fight the urge to multitask, which often impedes real productivity by leading to oversights and errors.

Take a break from technology.

When you're trying to concentrate, is there anything more distracting than a vibrating cell phone or the pinging sound of an incoming e-mail or instant message? If possible, give yourself periodic breaks from technology. This will allow you to work free of interruption and get more done.

Help others.

There's no better way to build rapport, foster goodwill and gain allies than by volunteering to assist overworked and frazzled co-workers. By lending a hand when you can, you're likely to be offered one in return the next time you're swamped.

Developing stellar time-management skills takes practice and discipline, but your efforts will pay big dividends. By establishing good habits and making the most of each workday, you'll not only avoid mad scrambles, you'll also increase your chances of completing your projects well before the buzzer sounds.

(http://www.cnn.com/)