Introduction to Leadership - Coursework Example

(Dale, Ernest, 1969) Prioritizing Tasks: Planning the work to be done is an important aspect of management. If the work isn't planned it either won't finish on time or even if finished it will lack effectiveness and efficiency. Work load can cause de-motivation and can be a reason for bad health. It is important to prioritize the work according to its importance and urgency. It isn't necessary that all important tasks are urgent but all urgent tasks are important. Importance and urgency of a task depend upon the impact that it would have if it is not completed.

The work which is of high importance and high urgency should be number one on the priority list and then comes the work of high importance and low urgency, for e.g. if a person has to deal with two important projects at the same time- one with a deadline of tomorrow and other is that after a week, the project of tomorrow's deadline will be prioritized and after its completion other project will be handled. The tasks which are not important but urgent should be number three on the list for e.g.

a co-worker’s request to help him with a small task and lastly the tasks which are neither important nor urgent for e.g. dealing and administrating activities. Time Management: Time is business's most important resource and plays a critical role at work place and achieving goals and tasks. Effective time management and productivity go hand in hand; the more productive you are the better time is managed. (Dale, Ernest.1969) Time should be spent on tasks according to the priorities set which will eventually lead to completion of important projects, tasks or goals.

Planning and allocating your time hold the most important position in this. Time planning could be done for operational- day to day activities and for long term strategic activities. The first step to time management is to analyze how we spent our time. Second step is to analyze how should we spent our time, this should take into account all the urgent and important tasks to be done. Third step should be to make effort to reduce the difference between what is done and what should be done. For e.g. If a certain task is completed in 2 hours and it could have been completed in 1 hour, steps should be taken to reduce all the time wasting activities so that most optimum use of time can be done and another task can be completed in the remaining one hour.

This will lead to not only completion of job on the time but it will also give additional time to recheck the work and quality of work can be improved too. An attached concept to time management is delegation of work. Manager's time is the most precious resource of the organization and it shouldn't be wasted in small unproductive tasks which add nothing to the organization. Rather smaller tasks of less importance should be delegated to subordinates. This will not only help managers to spent their time on strategic and higher level activities but this will also enhance the chances of subordinates training and learning.

It is important that delegation of tasks is done with clarity to avoid any conflicts. Delegation should also take place after considering the subordinates competence to do that task properly. Flexibility: Incorporating flexibility into a work plan is extremely important. Rigid plans leads to uneasiness and difficulty. A work plan should be made in such a way which could be adjusted according to circumstances.