Management
Time Technique: Using ABC
The
management time technique used by Alan Lakein, renowned time management
consultant, revolves around the ABC
priority system.
According
to this technique, all items on a list, whether it be a daily to-do
list or a long, medium or short-term goals list, should be labeled
with either an "A", a
"B" or a "C".
An
A identifies tasks with a high
value. B is for items with medium
value, and C for those with a low
value.
The
ABC management time technique becomes more powerful when you break
down the ABC categories further into A-1,
A-2, A-3, B-1, B-2, B-3, etc.
During
the course of a day some items may change from an A-1 to a B-1 depending
on the circumstances or situations that develop.
The
list must be flexible.
Using
ABC Priorities With Goal Setting
After
a brain storming session to identify your lifetime
goals, 3 year goals,
and six month goals, label
the most important in each category with an A-1 in the left margin
beside it. The second most important label A-2, the third most important
A-3.
You
will now have 9 goals taken from the three lists.
Then
pick out the most
important 3 goals
from the nine and re-write them on a clean sheet of paper.
Write
them in order, A-1, A-2, A-3.
You
now have a Lifetime Goals Statement.
In
other words, this management time technique gets
you targeted on exactly what you want to do with your life
at this particular time.
This
Lifetime Goals Statement is not static. It needs to be revised
from time to time as circumstances change.
The
next step using this management time technique is to associate
activities
with the goals.
Write
a list of all the activities you need to do to accomplish your A-1
goals.
Then
set your priorities on what activities would be the most
effective in getting towards your goals right now!
What
we have considered here is Alan Lakein's time management technique
in a nutshell.
This
is merely an overview. At the same time it is fundamental to good
time management.
To
learn more about the ABC Priority Management Time Technique, click
here to get your personal copy of Alan Lakein's best seller:
"How To Get Control Of Your Time And Your Life"
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