Time Management Self-Assessment Tool Respond to each of the following statements by marking “X” in the column that best describes the frequency with which you display the behavior. Choose responses that accurately reflect your current behavior and not what your behavior should be. Consider the questions on page 2 for this week’s discussion forum. Never Rarely Sometimes Often Almost Always N/A ORGANIZING BEHAVIORS 1 2 3 4 5 1. I write a “TO DO” list to guide my daily activities. 2. I can find my important papers quickly when I need to. 3. I have a weekly, monthly, and yearly calendar that is updated. 4. Friends would say that my closets are neat and organized. 5. I have addresses alphabetized and updated for quick reference. 6. When leading a meeting, I have an agenda to distribute. 7. I arrive early or on time to scheduled meetings and appointments. 8. I check email every day and respond within 24 hours. 9. I keep a notebook handy to capture ideas and information. 10. I have an orderly workspace. PRIORITIZING BEHAVIORS 1 2 3 4 5 1. I have a system for prioritizing tasks and frequently order my “to do” list. 2. I am able to handle interruptions effectively. 3. I say “no” to things that I have no time for. 4. I delegate to others the tasks that I know I will not have time for. 5. I avoid unnecessary meetings and conversations. 6. I build time into my day for exercise and fitness. 7. I feel peace and am not overwhelmed by circumstances. 8. I take time to meditate and nourish my soul daily. 9. I take time to listen carefully to others around me. 10. I take time early in the day to plan my day, making urgent items a priority for the day. MANAGING BEHAVIORS 1 2 3 4 5 1. I spend a great deal of time multitasking at home and at work. 2. I allow phone calls to go to voice mail when I am busy. 3. I know exactly where my time goes every day. 4. I have things accomplished in plenty of time because I start early. 5. I know what distracts me and I am disciplined in ignoring them. 6. I set goals that guide my daily plans and activities. 7. I always have something to read or to write on when unexpected lapses of time occur in my day. 8. I have a realistic timeline in my head for projects that must be completed and am able to pace my work to complete the project in time. 9. I am confident in my ability to lead a group of people to accomplish a task or assignment. 10. I will sacrifice my personal time in order to do a great job on a school or work project. After you complete the self-assessment, determine whether you are strongest in organizing, prioritizing, or managing your time. What behavior area was assessed as your weakest when considering time? Search the Mindtools.com web site for articles related to time management. Identify some personal initiatives ...

1. Time Management Self-Assessment Tool
Respond to each of the following statements by marking “X” in
the column that best describes the frequency with which you
display the behavior. Choose responses that accurately reflect
your current behavior and not what your behavior should be.
Consider the questions on page 2 for this week’s discussion
forum.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost Always
N/A
ORGANIZING BEHAVIORS
1
2
3
4
5
1. I write a “TO DO” list to guide my daily activities.
2. I can find my important papers quickly when I need to.

2. 3. I have a weekly, monthly, and yearly calendar that is
updated.
4. Friends would say that my closets are neat and organized.
5. I have addresses alphabetized and updated for quick
reference.
6. When leading a meeting, I have an agenda to distribute.
7. I arrive early or on time to scheduled meetings and
appointments.

3. 8. I check email every day and respond within 24 hours.
9. I keep a notebook handy to capture ideas and information.
10. I have an orderly workspace.
PRIORITIZING BEHAVIORS
1
2

4. 3
4
5
1. I have a system for prioritizing tasks and frequently order my
“to do” list.
2. I am able to handle interruptions effectively.
3. I say “no” to things that I have no time for.
4. I delegate to others the tasks that I know I will not have time
for.
5. I avoid unnecessary meetings and conversations.

5. 6. I build time into my day for exercise and fitness.
7. I feel peace and am not overwhelmed by circumstances.
8. I take time to meditate and nourish my soul daily.
9. I take time to listen carefully to others around me.
10. I take time early in the day to plan my day, making urgent
items a priority for the day.

6. MANAGING BEHAVIORS
1
2
3
4
5
1. I spend a great deal of time multitasking at home and at
work.
2. I allow phone calls to go to voice mail when I am busy.
3. I know exactly where my time goes every day.

7. 4. I have things accomplished in plenty of time because I start
early.
5. I know what distracts me and I am disciplined in ignoring
them.
6. I set goals that guide my daily plans and activities.
7. I always have something to read or to write on when
unexpected lapses of time occur in my day.

8. 8. I have a realistic timeline in my head for projects that must
be completed and am able to pace my work to complete the
project in time.
9. I am confident in my ability to lead a group of people to
accomplish a task or assignment.
10. I will sacrifice my personal time in order to do a great job
on a school or work project.
After you complete the self-assessment, determine whether you
are strongest in organizing, prioritizing, or managing your time.
What behavior area was assessed as your weakest when
considering time?
Search the Mindtools.com web site for articles related to time
management. Identify some personal initiatives that will assist
you in managing time efficiently and effectively while you are
in school.

9. Share your personal plans for improving the management of
your time with your classmates in the Time Management
discussion forum this week.
Created by Jeannie Short MSN, RN and Jane E. Vincent Ed.D.,
RN
for
Indiana Wesleyan University
Post-licensure (RNBSN) Program
Edited 4/2013 ©
In completing this self-study, the learner will….
Understand the purpose and benefits of goal development
Differentiate between a goal and an objective
Practice writing goal statements using the S.M.A.R.T. method
Learn to prioritize goal and objective statements
Conclude that evaluation of process and
progress is valuable in determining the success of planning
appropriate activities/steps to meet each goal.
Defining a Goal
A goal is an outcome to achieve by using specific actions. Goals
evolve by identifying a need, establishing a role, or finding a
result that you desire to achieve.

10. A written goal “provides a strong statement of intent and the
results to be achieved.”
(Rouillard, 2003, p. ii)
Why do we need goals?
“Goals are an essential part of successfully conducting business
and living a rewarding life. Well-defined goals allow you to
choose, design, and implement important targets (objectives)
necessary to achieve overall desired results (missions).”
Rouillard, 2003, p. xii
Goals…
Give direction
Target expected outcomes
Improve performance levels by setting specific and realistic
results to achieve
Enhance teamwork through a unified purpose.
Goals clearly answer the following questions…
What is it you want to achieve?
When will the accomplishment be completed?
Who are the people involved?
How much will it cost?
What resources will be used?
Goals contain the following elements
Action verb
Measurable outcomes
Specific time frame
Resource constraints (money, time, people, equipment, space)

11. Microsoft Office clipart
Let’s look at each of these four elements individually.
Goals begin with an action verb.
Example of an action verb used to express what the desire
achievement is:
Goal: To reduce the number of urinary tract infections by 50%...
Action verbs in a goal statement typically follow the word “to.”
Goals state a measurable outcome.
A goal should include a way of knowing how and when an
outcome has been reached or achieved.
Example of a measurable outcome:
To reduce the number of urinary tract infections by 50% before
the end of the third quarter (Oct. 1).
Goals should include a specific date and time
A specific date and time tells when the goal should be
completed.
Example: To reduce the number of urinary tract infections by
50% before the end of the third quarter (Oct. 1).
Goals should address any resources involved or limited
Cost and resource constraints might include money, people,
time, environment, or equipment.
Example: To reduce the number of urinary tract infections by

12. 50% before the end of the third quarter (Oct. 1) without any
increase cost to unit.
Let’s practice identifying the elements of a realistic goal
statement:
Microsoft Office clipart
To select five new staff members for the Nursing Standards
Committee by November 1st to review NLN guidelines for the
prevention of sepsis without increasing the need for paid
meeting time.
What is the action verb?
Goal Statement:
To select five new staff members for the Nursing Standards
Committee by November 1st to review NLN guidelines for the
prevention of sepsis without increasing the need for paid
meeting time.
GREAT JOB !!!
To select five new staff members for the Nursing Standards
Committee by November 1st to review NLN guidelines for the
prevention of sepsis without increasing the need for paid
meeting time.
What is the measurable outcome?

13. Goal Statement:
To select five new staff members for the Nursing Standards
Committee by November 1st to review NLN guidelines for the
prevention of sepsis without increasing the need for paid
meeting time.
GREAT JOB !!!
To select five new staff members for the Nursing Standards
Committee by November 1st to review NLN guidelines for the
prevention of sepsis without increasing the need for paid
meeting time.
What is the specific date?
Goal Statement:
To select five new staff members for the Nursing Standards
Committee by November 1st to review NLN guidelines for the
prevention of sepsis without increasing the need for paid
meeting time.
GREAT JOB !!!
To select five new staff members for the Nursing Standards
Committee by November 1st to review NLN guidelines for the
prevention of sepsis without increasing the need for paid
meeting time.
What is the cost or resource constraint?

14. Goal Statement:
To select five new staff members for the Nursing Standards
Committee by November 1st to review NLN guidelines for the
prevention of sepsis without increasing the need for paid
meeting time.
GREAT JOB !!!
In Review….
Goals are S.M.A.R.T.
Specific
Measurable
Action-oriented
Realistic
Time and Resource Constrained
(Rouillard, 2003)
Microsoft Office clipart
22
Creating Objectives
Now that you know how to write goals; you need to create
objectives to assist and direct you in achieving your goals.
But how are
GOALS

15. different from
OBJECTIVES?
Microsoft Office clipart
Objectives are:
Specific actions or plans that help you to attain a stated goal.
They are more narrow than goals
They are very specific with intent
They are behavior-specific
They are tangible
They can be validated
They direct the activity
Well-written objectives…
Speak specifically to the stated goal.
Are sequential steps (listed in order of occurrence) that are
taken to actively achieve the stated goal.
Begin with behavioral action verbs that can be observed and
measured.
Behavioral objectives allow for appropriate evaluation to occur
and to increase clarity in the plan for achieving the goal.
Microsoft Office clipart
Let’s look at some behavioral action words:
write
recite
find
state
choose

16. identify
name
trace
compare
classify
collect
create
assemble
organize
measure
assess
illustrate
research
report
select
prepare
locate
describe
plan
28
Let’s try putting goals and objectives together….
You are planning a project that involves making an anniversary
scrapbook for an elderly couple. You are going to create the
goals and objectives needed to manage this simple project.
Do you remember what you will do first?
You are right !
You will write S.M.A.R.T.
goal statements

17. and list them in sequential order.
Which goal statement is measurable ?
To research anniversary scrapbook page designs by the end of
week one.
To find scrapbook page ideas.
You are right ! Goal #1 is specific and measurable.
Let’s list our 5 goals in sequential order….
1
3
2
5
4
To research anniversary scrapbook designs by the end of week
one.
To obtain the needed supplies to create 20 pages
by day three of week two
To establish a budget by the end of week one to not exceed a
maximum of $300 for a total of 20 scrapbook pages.
To create all 20 scrapbook pages using the resources purchased
by then end of week three.
To schedule a 12 hour block of time for project work that will
occur during week three. Date will be set my end of week two.
Now you need specific behavioral objectives to achieve each of
these five goals.
Microsoft Office clipart

18. Goal One: To research scrapbook page designs by the end of
week one.
Objectives
Call Diane and borrow her scrapbook magazines on Tuesday.
Search the internet for anniversary page ideas and designs
throughout week and print ideas for planning notebook.
Call Ruth by Wednesday and arrange a visit to see the
scrapbook that she created for her parents.
Visit craft supply store and look at page ideas that the design
team has created on Thursday.
List ideas of preferences by the end of week.
Goal Two: To establish a budget by the end of week one to not
exceed a maximum of $300 for a total of 20 scrapbook pages.
Objectives
Budget average cost for each page to not exceed budget goal of
$300.
Assess supplies at home for each page and list supplies to be
purchased.
Assess what can be borrowed from Patti, Diane, Ruth, and Kelly
to stay within the budget.
Calculate the cost of paper, photos, and embellishments needed
for each page by Friday afternoon.
Goal Three: To obtain the needed supplies for a 20-page
scrapbook by day three of week two.
Objectives
Call friends to obtain items to borrow and collect items on day
one.

19. Look for sale coupons at local stores that sell scrapbook
supplies on day two.
List all items that need to be purchased on day two.
Purchase paper and embellishments for the scrapbook on day
three.
Take pictures to be copied for use in scrapbook while shopping
for supplies.
Goal Four: To prepare for a 12-hour block of time for project
work that will occur during week three.
Objectives
Complete school paperwork in advance to free up project time.
Ask husband to entertain the kids on the designated block of
time.
Postpone plans that might interfere with chosen date for project
work.
Goal Five: To create scrapbook project using the acquired
supplies by the end of week three.
Objectives
Designate the themes to be included in the scrapbook.
Prioritize the themes and place in order as to how they will
appear in the book.
Design a pair of pages for each theme.
Select pictures and journaling for each set of pages.
Assemble page designs in desired order.
Bind the completed pages in the scrapbook.

20. Evaluation
It is important to evaluate your progress on each Goal as you
perform the activities designated by your objectives. This is
referred to as formative evaluation. Doing so will enable you to
gain feedback on the project as it moves forward.
Evaluation
Following the completion of your project (known as the
product) one also needs to perform an evaluation. This process
is referred to as summative evaluation. Doing so will enable you
to determine if your product (the scrapbook) was completed.
Evaluation
Additionally, and very importantly, summative evaluation
provides an assessment for the writer to conclude that further
practice is needed in describing intended outcomes.
Reference
Rouillard, L. A. (2003). Goals and goal setting: Achieving
measured objectives (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Thomson Course
Technology.