This document provides 7 time management tips for busy teachers: 1. Prioritize tasks by importance and urgency, completing important urgent tasks first. 2. Factor in potential problems and delays by building in buffers and asking others questions upfront. 3. Schedule mentally taxing tasks for when you have the most energy, such as in the morning. 4. Set clear expectations and instructions when delegating tasks to others. 5. Be assertive when others ask for your time and have them summarize their request. 6. Multi-task to stay productive by having several tasks in progress at once. 7. Tackle unpleasant or difficult tasks first thing in the morning to feel a sense of accomplishment

1. 7 Time
Management Tips
for Busy Teachers!
Presented by Debbie Inglis, Square Two Development Ltd, December 2012
www.squaretwo.co.uk

2. #1: What's important and urgent?
Split your tasks list into:
important & urgent
important and not urgent
… and complete them in that
order!
Anything else (non-important) complete
at your discretion when you have
spare time!

3. For example, things you have little control over …

E.g. You're relying on a member of staff to
provide information for a policy you're writing, or
assessment data which you're collating … and
they go off sick just before your deadline
These things happen, especially at particularly busy / pressurised
times. Aim to give deadlines to others which are earlier than your
own deadlines, where possible.
#2: Factor in problems

4. #3: Know your peak energy times
Aim to do the trickier, more
mentally or physically
taxing things when
you're at your most
energetic.
First thing in the morning works for
me!
Some people are better later in the
day / evening.
Some lucky ones have more than
one energy peak a day!!

5. Ask questions to get clarity on tasks you're asked
to do by others, rather than waste time later re-
doing something
When giving tasks to others, save time at the start
by giving clear instructions and asking questions
to ensure they have clarity about what's expected
of them
#4: Be clear about expectations

6. #5: 'Do you have a minute?”
Let's face it – these requests shouldn't
be taken literally … unless the person
asking is a master at the 'Just a
Minute' radio programme!
Firstly, decide whether you can spare the time to
find out more. If you can't, be pleasant and
assertive and ask if they can come back later.
Secondly, ask them to give you a brief summary
of what they need to speak to you about. Then
you'll be in a better position to say whether you've
got 1, 5 or 10 minutes to spare!

7. There's a reason why they say – if you want
something done, ask a busy person.
When we have time on our hands our pace of work slows, and the
opposite is often the case when we have several things to do – so
you are generally at your most productive when you have several
things on the go at once … just make sure this doesn't turn into
overwhelm.
Know where your tipping point is for this!
#6: Multi-tasking works wonders!

8. OK – not a real one, especially if it's one of
these!
In his book, 'Eat That Frog', Brian Tracy reminds us
of the saying that if the 1st thing you do each
morning is eat a live frog, you can go through the
rest of the day knowing nothing else you face will be
as unpleasant or difficult.
So what 'frogs' are you facing at the moment?
If you keep putting off the larger tasks, try breaking
them into bite-sized pieces, and tackle one piece
each day.
More on this in a blog:
http://squaretwocoaching.wordpress.com/2010/07/05/eat-that-frog-and-reduce-
procrastination/
#7: Eat a frog for breakfast