Synopses & Reviews
Suffering from information overload? Being asked to do too much? Can’t say no? If you’re finding your days clogged with endless activities and responsibilities and your work life spinning out of control, it’s time to employ some practical, realistic solutions to the age-old problem of “too much to do and too little time.”
This new fourth edition of the classic book on time management gives you more powerful methods for both maximizing efficiency and getting the most satisfaction out of your workday. In The Time Trap you’ll find out how to:
• Avoid so-called “time savers” that don’t really work.
• Set realistic goals and make commitments you can keep.
• Juggle multiple demands.
• Accurately estimate time needed on new tasks.
• Pinpoint and combat the most tenacious time-wasters.
• Protect your priorities.
Based on decades of research and interviews with businesspeople around the world—and extensively revised to include technology-based solutions to the challenges we all face in the virtual world—The Time Trap is loaded with smart tactics and priceless time management tools. Let this proven guide boost your personal productivity and professional success when time is not on your side.
Praise for Previous Editions of The Time Trap
“Alec Mackenzie provides an invaluable tool to anyone who wants to become more efficient. Here is a concise guide to the causes of poor time management, with both clear and creative methods for eliminating them.”
— Eleanor Brantley Schwartz, Chancellor, University of Missouri–Kansas City
“This edition is Dr. Alec Mackenzie’s best Time Trap book yet. He really understands the time traps that befall us all, and he provides answers that will make our lives more fruitful with less stress. I am delighted to be counted as a ‘disciple’ of his wisdom.”
— Jim Van Houten, General Manager, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Alec Mackenzie was an internationally known speaker, consultant, and expert on time management.
Pat Nickerson, President of EBI Inc., San Diego, is the author of Managing Multiple Bosses. Her seminars on time and priority management have attracted 180,000 managers and professionals—business, government, and military—worldwide.
Synopsis
One of the all-time bestselling books on time management, The Time Trap has shown countless readers how to squeeze the optimal efficiency-and satisfaction-out of their work day. Based on decades of research with businesspeople around the world, The Time Trap shows readers how to: * avoid so-called "time savers" that don't really work * set realistic goals and make commitments they can keep * juggle multiple demands * estimate time needed on new tasks * pinpoint and combat the most tenacious time-wasters * protect their priorities * upgrade personal productivity for professional success Filled with smart tactics, revealing interviews, and handy time management tools, the fourth edition has been extensively revised to include technology-based solutions to the challenges and opportunities we all face in the virtual world. For those who feel swamped by work and overwhelmed by information, this is the proven guide they need to get everything under control.
Synopsis
One of the all-time bestselling books on time management, The Time Trap has shown countless readers how to squeeze the optimal efficiency---and satisfaction---out of their work day. The fourth addition adds technology-based solutions to the smart tactics, revealing interviews, and handy time management tools that has made this book a classic.
Synopsis
One of the all-time bestselling books on time management, The Time Trap has shown countless readers how to squeeze the optimal efficiency--and satisfaction--out of their work day. This much-needed guide provides the quick solutions you need be more effective with your time and avoid and escape the so-called "time savers" that don't really work. Backed by decades of research with businesspeople around the world, authors Pat Nickerson and Alec Mackenzie explain how to: set realistic goals and make commitments they can keep; juggle multiple demands; estimate time needed on new tasks; pinpoint and combat the most tenacious time wasters; protect priorities; and upgrade personal productivity for professional success. Plus, the fourth edition has been extensively revised to include technology-based solutions to the challenges and opportunities we all face in the virtual world. Filled with smart tactics, revealing interviews, and handy time management tools, The Time Trap is your go-to resource for leveraging twenty-first century opportunities and overcoming challenges to maximizing your work time.
Synopsis
The Time Trap has shown countless readers how to squeeze the optimal efficiency--and satisfaction--out of their work day.
This much-needed guide provides the quick solutions you need be more effective with your time and avoid and escape the so-called "time savers" that don't really work. Backed by decades of research with businesspeople around the world, authors Pat Nickerson and Alec Mackenzie explain how to:
- set realistic goals and make commitments they can keep;
- juggle multiple demands;
- estimate time needed on new tasks;
- pinpoint and combat the most tenacious time wasters;
- protect priorities;
- and upgrade personal productivity for professional success.
Plus, the fourth edition has been extensively revised to include technology-based solutions to the challenges and opportunities we all face in the virtual world.
Filled with smart tactics, revealing interviews, and handy time management tools, The Time Trap is your go-to resource for leveraging twenty-first century opportunities and overcoming challenges to maximizing your work time.
Synopsis
For those who feel swamped by work and overwhelmed by information, this proven guide provides the information you need to manage your time and get everything under control.
Synopsis
One of the all-time bestselling books on time management, The Time Trap has shown countless readers how to squeeze the optimal efficiency—and satisfaction—out of their work day. Based on decades of research with businesspeople around the world, The Time Trap shows readers how to:
• avoid so-called “time savers” that don’t really work
• set realistic goals and make commitments they can keep
• juggle multiple demands
• estimate time needed on new tasks
• pinpoint and combat the most tenacious time-wasters
• protect their priorities
• upgrade personal productivity for professional success
Filled with smart tactics, revealing interviews, and handy time management tools, the fourth edition has been extensively revised to include technology-based solutions to the challenges and opportunities we all face in the virtual world. For those who feel swamped by work and overwhelmed by information, this is the proven guide they need to get everything under control.
Synopsis
"Can't say no? Reluctant to delegate? Information overload?
More and more people today are finding their time clogged up with endless activities and responsibilities, and their work lives spinning out of control. No matter how hard they try to get things done...there's never enough time!
Now practical, realistic solutions to the problem are spelled out clearly and concisely in this new edition of the classic book on time management.
The Time Trap shows readers how to squeeze the optimal efficiency--and satisfaction--out of their workday as they learn how to:
* recognize how human nature is usually the root cause of dwindling time
* pinpoint and combat the 20 most tenacious time wasters
* avoid the technology trap and so-called ""time savers""
* choose realistic goals and regain control of their life
* use time management techniques for professional and personal success.
Based on decades of research with businesspeople around the world, The Time Trap is filled with smart tactics, hard-hitting interviews, and handy time management tools. With a half million copies sold in previous editions, it's the most popular time management toolkit available."
About the Author
Alec Mackenzie was an internationally known speaker, consultant, and expert on time management.
Pat Nickerson (San Diego, CA), founder and president of EBI, Inc., is the author of Managing Multiple Bosses (978-08144-7025-1). A corporate trainer, she has trained more than 180,000 managers and professionals in time management.
Table of Contents
CONTENTS
Preface
Acknowledgments
PART ONE
Time Management for the Twenty-First Century
1 Why Time Still Baffles the Best of Us
2 Time Traps We’ve Been Taught
3 How to Connect Goals, Objectives, and Priorities
4 How to Set Priorities and Hold Them
5 How to Tame the Time Log
PART TWO
The New Time Traps and Escapes
6 Management by Crisis
7 Inadequate Planning
8 Inability to Say No
9 Poor Communication
10 Poorly Run Meetings
11 The World Gone Virtual
12 E-Mail Mania
13 The Untamed Telephone
14 Information Overload and the Paper Chase
15 Confused Responsibility and Authority
16 Poor Delegation and Training
17 Procrastination and Leaving Tasks Unfinished
18 Socializing and Drop-In Visitors
19 Attempting Too Much
PART THREE
Parting Advice
20 Life Lessons in Time Management
21 Where Do We Go from Here?
PART FOUR
Quick Solutions Summaries for the New Time Traps
Trap 1: Management By Crisis
Trap 2: Inadequate Planning
Trap 3: Inability to Say No
Trap 4: Communication
Trap 5: Poorly Run Meetings
Trap 6: The World Gone Virtual
Trap 7: E-Mail Mania
Trap 8: The Untamed Telephone
Trap 9: Incomplete Information and the Paper Chase
Trap 10: Confused Responsibility and Authority
Trap 11: Poor Delegation and Training
Trap 12: Procrastination and Leaving Tasks Unfinished
Trap 13: Socializing and Drop-In Visitors
Trap 14: Attempting Too Much
Index