Advances of the Fourth Generation

One of the reasons why people resist using third-generation time management tools is because they

lose spontaneity; they become rigid and inflexible. They subordinate people to schedules because the

efficiency paradigm of the third generation of management is out of harmony with the principle that

people are more important than things.

The fourth-generation tool recognizes that principle. It also recognizes that the first person you

need to consider in terms of effectiveness rather than efficiency is yourself. It encourages you to spend time in Quadrant II, to understand and center your life on principles, to give clear expression to the

purposes and values you want to direct your daily decisions. It helps you create balance in your life.

It helps you rise above the limitations of daily planning and organize and schedule in the context of the week. And when a higher value conflicts with what you have planned, it empowers you to use your

self-awareness and your conscience to maintain integrity to the principles and purposes you have

determined are most important. Instead of using a road map, you're using a compass.

The fourth generation of self-management is more advanced than the third in five important ways.

First, it's principle-centered. More than giving lip service to Quadrant II, it creates the central

paradigm that empowers you to see your time in the context of what is really important and effective

Second, it's conscience-directed. It gives you the opportunity to organize your life to the best of

your ability in harmony with your deepest values. But it also gives you the freedom to peacefully

subordinate your schedule to higher values.

THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE Brought to you by FlyHeart Third, it defines your unique mission, including values and long-term goals. This gives direction

and purpose to the way you spend each day.

Fourth, it helps you balance your life by identifying roles, and by setting goals and scheduling

activities in each key role every week.

And fifth, it gives greater context through weekly organizing (with daily adaptation as needed),

rising above the limiting perspective of a single day and putting you in touch with your deepest values

through review of your key roles.

The practical thread running through all five of these advances is a primary focus on relationships

and results and a secondary focus on time.

Delegation: Increasing P and PC

We accomplish all that we do through delegation -- either to time or to other people. If we

delegate to time, we think efficiency. If we delegate to other people, we think effectiveness.

Many people refuse to delegate to other people because they feel it takes too much time and effort

and they could do the job better themselves. But effectively delegating to others is perhaps the single most powerful high-leverage activity there is.

Transferring responsibility to other skilled and trained people enables you to give your energies to

other high-leverage activities. Delegation means growth, both for individuals and for organizations.

The late J. C. Penney was quoted as saying that the wisest decision he ever made was to "let go" after realizing that he couldn't do it all by himself any longer. That decision, made long ago, enabled the

development and growth of hundreds of stores and thousands of people.

Because delegation involves other people, it is a Public Victory and could well be included in Habit

4. But because we are focusing here on principles of personal management, and the ability to delegate

to others is the main difference between the role of manager and independent producer, I am

approaching delegation from the standpoint of your personal managerial skills.

A producer does whatever is necessary to accomplish desired results, to get the golden eggs. A

parent who washes the dishes, an architect who draws up blueprints, or a secretary who types

correspondence is a producer.

But when a person sets up and works with and through people and systems to produce golden eggs,

that person becomes a manager in the interdependent sense. A parent who delegates washing the

dishes to a child is a manager. An architect who heads a team of other architects is a manager. A

secretary who supervises other secretaries and office personnel is an office manager.

A producer can invest one hour of effort and produce one unit of results, assuming no loss of

efficiency.

A manager, on the other hand, can invest one hour of effort and produce 10 or 50 or 100 units

through effective delegation.

Management is essentially moving the fulcrum over, and the key to effective management is

delegation.

Date: 2015-02-03; view: 1904