Skill Sharpener Item #11

I methodically use a time management/planning tool (Daytimer, computer-based scheduler, PalmPilot, etc.) to schedule and protect time required to effectively manage my projects.

Outstanding! Here are some of the benefits you've probably received because you write down how you'll use your time according to prevailing priorities and you protect that written plan against urgent but less important intrusions:

By merging your project-driven time and outcome commitments with non-project commitments, you have a way (and perhaps the only way) to gauge priorities and how close you are to your maximum workload.

Your project participants can rely on you to do what you say you'll do when you say you'll do it.

You can effectively explain to others why you must either delay action on their request for your time or turn their request down altogether. (Without a planned schedule of priority commitments, people tend to say "Yes" even though they're in a chronic state of overload.)

You are much more reliable in producing the results that you say you'll produce when you promise to produce them. (Trust me on this one - you can't be a good Project Manager if you're not an accomplished Time Manager; it just isn't possible!).