Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Praise and Reviews `Patrick has a lucid and elegant style of writing, which allows him to present information in a way that is organised, focused and easy to apply.` PROFESSIONAL MARKETING In business, the increasing pressure to achieve makes time management a vital skill. You need to be able to work efficiently and effectively to ensure that your desired results are achieved - both in your job, and in your career. Successful Time Management sets out practical guidelines to help you do just that. Packed with proven tips and techniques, it helps anyone to review and assess their own time management and adopt new work practices to improve it. There are time saving ideas, practical solutions and checklists, plus great advice on: controlling paperwork; getting and staying organized; delegating and working with others; prioritising to focus on key issues and prompt the best results. Whether you are under pressure or not, this essential guide will help you to reduce time-wasting and interruptions, and focus on the priority tasks that lead to success - It could just change your life!

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• 1 Time: a key resource - opportunities and difficulties making it work
• A personal approach
• The productivity gain
• Speculate to accumulate
• Perfect time
• 2 First steps towards effective time management Your work mix
• Assessing your current working practice
• Plan the work and work the plan
• What kind of system?
• Setting clear objectives
• Thinking ahead
• Spend time to save time
• Taking time to think
• Be prepared to say 'no'
• To be, or not to be (perfect)
• Work smarter not longer
• reward yourself
• 3 Getting (and staying) organised Work the plan
• Batch your tasks
• Use your diary effectively
• Schedule appointments with care
• Clear your desk
• Avoid 'cherry picking'
• Use abstracts
• The Internet
• Highlight key facts
• Insist on quality
• Action or investment
• A good personal assistant (or secretary)
• Use a 'document parking' system
• Make use of checklists
• Directing the techniques at particular result areas
• Intermission... take a break
• 4 Combating the time wasters The greatest time waster?
• Handling personal interruptions
• Handling telephone interruptions
• Save time getting through
• Make messages accurate
• E-mail
• On the move
• 5 First things first Pareto's law
• Make the miscellaneous a priority
• Schedule - backwards
• Be honest about deadlines
• Review task methodology
• Eliminate the unnecessary
• Danger - keep your distance
• Be confident of your priorities
• 6 Controlling the paperwork Aim to minimise paperwork
• Make a habit of brevity
• Minimal memos
• Minimise your paper handling
• Do not let files and filing waste time
• Keep papers neat
• Computerise it - but carefully
• Do not duplicate information unnecessarily
• Do not proliferate information unnecessarily
• Do not put it in writing
• Write faster
• WPB - the most time-saving object in your office
• 7 Working with other people The socialising organisation
• Informal contact
• Making a working lunch work
• Consider a day out
• No conflict - no wasted time
• The right people
• The need for clear instructions
• Don't do it - delegate
• Swap tasks to save time
• Develop your people
• Simply the most time-saving phrase in the language
• Do not hover
• Motivate your people
• Provide specific time management help for staff
• Make and keep some firm rules
• Meetings - danger or opportunity
• 8 Final words

Excerpt provided by Syndetics