CA JEETENDRA MISTRY
SERIES - TIME MANAGEMENT – 8
MATRIX OF TIME MANAGEMENT – RESULTS/EFFECTS
In this series of Time Management, in last 7 articles on Time Management, we identified Characteristics of Time, concept of Time Management and how it shapes out to be Life Leadership, G-D-P (i.e. Goal, Direction and Process) of Time Management, and we identified six Time Wasters and Time Savers. In last article, we discussed ultimate of Time Management – which is known as T/M Matrix.
In short, if we analyze our time spent over specific period, we may have 4 quadrants, identified as:
Urgent and important
Not Urgent, but Important
Not Important, but Urgent
Not Urgent and Not important
If we analyze, our 100% of time can be categorized under at least any one of the quadrants above. It may happen that one same activity may be categorized under different quadrants for different persons. Let us consider one simple activity – say visit to a Hill-station. It may be under quadrant I, if a sick person having specific disease, may be advised by specialist doctor, for natural treatment. The same activity may be classified under quadrant III if some meeting of some club is held at hill-station, where you are neither a speaker, nor administer, but only a participant. If any of your friends come and asks you to accompany him to hill-station, as he has some work, and you having no specific reason to deny, you join him, it may be classified under quadrant IV. But If you want to have quality time spent with your family with group of family friends, at time of vacation, it may be classified in quadrant II.
Similarly, same activity may be classified under different quadrants, for the same person under different circumstances, depending on purpose. Let me explain same example different way – visiting hill-station. If your son has gone on a picnic with his friends and meets with accident there, so if you must rush there, which is Quadrant I activity for you. But if you have seminar of some specific religion at that place and you attend it, it may be classified under quadrant III. But if a friend just drags you there to accompany him, for his personal work and you join him, it may be under Quadrant IV. But if you are member of a professional body and you have Refresher Course of seminars at hill-station, which add to your knowledge, it would fall under quadrant II.
Whys should we need to analyze our time under different quadrants and how does it affect our productivity? Results are different for each quadrant, depending on purpose as explained above. But general effects are put under matrix of results under each quadrant, remain more or less same.
Having understood activities to be classified under different quadrants, let us now look at results we have, under each quadrant.
RESULTS UNDER DIFFERENT QUADRANTS
We had identified earlier while discussing about Time, which is not a person, nor a thing but thinking which depends on each person. Hence THINKING makes all the difference with regards to time and your priorities define your attitude towards time. I have narrated all likely consequence of activities under each quadrant above, which are ultimate results one has to face. If you do not want to feel victimized, avoid activities to fall under quadrant III. If you have vision of a big dream ahead, say your passion to pursue specific career path, you must focus more on quadrant II activities.
Similarly, if you do not have any purpose or direction set by design of your will and attitude, it is very likely that you fall prey to activities under quadrant IV. If you do not have design of your own, you will be governed by default settings, which will lead you to unnecessary activities.
Before I start another nice concept about Time Management, I need to clear out some basics about our Life Tree. Principles – natural unbound truths and laws, governing our life are ROOTS of our life tree, which are deep within us and lead us thru our thoughts, communication and actions. These are real VALUES which each one reveres as their own. If you think that to speak lies in business is OK, you may carry on with its resultant effects. But if your conscience does not allow to lie for small matters, it may make big difference in your thoughts, communications and actions.
Another facet is our MISSION, which is like Trunk of a Life Tree, say trunk of our life tree. Mission of each and all is to enjoy this little span of time, called LIFE, the journey from Birth to Death, with Joy of Doing and Sense of Fulfillment, in broader terms. Everyone needs “Anand” and “Santosh” as ultimate goals of life. Mission may be “to be successful”, but when questioned after that what? The ultimate answer shall be only as above.
And on top of our life tree comes branches and leaves and fruits. I consider them as our Roles. As a person, you have different roles to play – in childhood, you were son/daughter of your parents, student of your teachers and friends of your friends. As you grow and marry, you become spouse of your better-half and later parent of your children. If we talk about your occupational world, you may be boss of your subordinates and at the same time, one of players of a team of peers, and may be Assistant to your Superiors. Even if you are socially active, you may be member of some club or association, but if you hold some position, you may be office-bearer as well. You need to have different actions to be carried out in your different roles.
We shall have most important part of Time Management – which connects your ROLES and GOALS under each Role in our next article, in more specific detail.
JEETNDRA MISTRY
