PsyNet
Third habit of highly effective people: Put first things first
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Are you busy with work and personal life on most days? Have you ever felt your time could have been used more wisely and meaningfully?
In the book, the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, Habit Three focuses on making the best out of our daily hazels. According to the author, development of modern personal management theories can be divided into four generations of time management. The first three generations focus on the use of a checklist to schedule and prioritise our time for the tasks we need to complete. The fourth generation focuses on managing ourselves in achieving both personal satisfaction and results.
Effective personal management lies in "Put First Things First". The author pointed out that people who often engage in activities that are "urgent and important" such as resolving crises and pressing problems, are vulnerable to stress. Those who often spend time on things that are "urgent but unimportant" or even "not urgent and unimportant" such as answering a ringing phone or participating in trivial matters, are prone to be lacking in goals and planning in life and sometimes even becoming irresponsible.
People with effective personal management spend most of their time in "not urgent but important" things such as preventive maintenance, building relationships, recognising new opportunities, long-term planning, and healthy recreation. They are often effective people with vision, goals, discipline, control and balance.
The author suggested that we have to be proactive in not letting things that are unimportant work on us. We have to learn to say "no" to such activities and focus on the things that match our goals and priorities.
Steward delegation is also mentioned as an effective personal management skill. The focus of such delegation is on results instead of methods. It involves creating a clear and mutual understanding of what needs to be accomplished and identifying the parameters within which the individual should operate. It also provides the resources needed and specifies the consequences in terms of rewards and punishment.
Let's put the principles of "Put First Things First" in our lives, first by recognising the urgency and importance of the things you are doing, and then following your own priorities, learning to say "no", and delegating.