Challenges in Time Management

Time management plays an important role in accomplishing any task. Time assigned for a task should not be less than the optimum value otherwise you will not get an effective result. It should also not be more than optimum value because, in this case you may get a better result but you have increased the cost to get the result. So what are the challenges occur in time management? Here is the list of challenges, their cause, effect and precautions.

1. Lack of Problem Solving skill

1. Causes:
   • Having a lack of information regarding the objective of the task.
   • Hiring unskilled labor is one of the main cause.
   • The inability of creative thinking.
   • Applying inappropriate methods.
2. Effects:
   • Lack of problem solving skill gives an inappropriate result.
   • This will increase the time to complete the task which will cost to the organization.
3. Precautions:
   • Always hire skilled labor.
   • Empower your group member by teaching skills required.
   • The objective of the task should be clear.
   • Always ask questions regarding the task and keep monitoring them.

2. Not knowing when and how to say ‘NO’

1. Causes: 
   • You are only not clear about the objective of the task.
   • You are clear about the objective but you are not serious about that.
   • Afraid of what the front person will think.
   • Having overconfidence on the person that he or she will provide the better result.
2. Effects:
   • Assigned task may divert from the original objective.
   • The employee may be frustrated afterward.
3. Precautions:
   • Have end to end conversation.
   • Treat every employee as equal and assigned task according to the capabilities.
   • Create an open and safe working environment.

3. Procrastination

1. Causes:
   • Planning is not done properly.
   • Employees are less moral towards their work.
   • Fear of failure and unknowns will also cause procrastination.
   • Delay at the beginning and missing deadlines.
   • Lack of labor skill.
2. Effects:
   • Since the total time taken is increased, the cost of the product will also increase.
   • Procrastination may lead to poor decision making.
   • It leads to low confidence.
   • You may add workload on other due to procrastination.
3. Precautions:
   • Keep motivating your team member so that they can give their best.
   • Plan accurately and effectively.
   • The start point is very important, so start well before time.
   • Forget about the delay happened before.

4. Sudden Change of Plan

1. Causes:
   • Objective was not clear at the beginning.
   • New methods and plans involve which are better than the previous one.
   • Taking new employees or excluding involved employees may also lead to plan change.
   • Inaccurate planning for task executing.
   • Emergency task may occur in between.
2. Effects:
   • It may lead to missing deadlines and procrastination.
   • The changed plan may not provide a better outcome.
   • Employees may get distracted and may not maintain the speed at which they were previously working.
3. Precautions:
   • Plan accurately and stick to it.
   • Do not change your group member in between.
   • For an emergency task try to form a new team and assign it to them.

5. Multitasking

1. Causes:
   • When the accuracy of the result is not important.
   • Missing deadlines and procrastination are the main cause of multitasking.
   • Planning is not organized in a structured way.
2. Effects:
   • Multitasking decreases the accuracy of the result.
   • It may create stress in the employee.
   • Multitasking will not allow you to be creative.
3. Precautions:
   • Avoid missing deadlines and procrastination.
   • Eliminate distractions i.e. unwanted work.
   • Plan and prioritize your work schedule.
   • Do one thing at a time.

6. Unable to manage distraction

1. Causes:
   • Doing unwanted work as phone calls, social media, etc.
   • Visitors may also cause a distraction in your work.
   • Handling unexpected meeting in between the working hours.
2. Effects:
   • Small distraction may lead to big error.
   • It may lead to missing deadlines.
   • It may also decrease moral values towards the work.
3. Precautions:
   • If phone calls are urgent and part of your work then assigned to another member to manage calls.
   • Be focused on what you are doing.
   • Take out some time for doing other activity.