By: Nick Kacher
“Poor time management leads to well-intentioned employees who consistently allow the urgent to overwhelm the important.” I heard this quote at a leadership conference years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. How often do we as lawyers allow the urgent to trump the important? Lawyers often describe their jobs as putting out one fire after another. I know we have all been there. Is this the best way to manage your legal practice? Is this a good way to lead your life? A concentrated effort to manage your time better is one of the most important things an attorney can do to achieve greater career success and better life balance.
Often, the barrier to success is not a lack of commitment, but over commitment. Busyness is not a direct line to success. It will not necessarily give your career meaning or purpose. It also does not always equal importance or productivity. The question is not whether you could do something, but rather, should you do it. Is it the best use of your time? The ability to say no to a lot of little things, will allow you the time to say yes to bigger things that will ultimately have a higher impact. That is why I encourage you to begin a “Don’t do” list.
Many practice time management by maintaining a great to-do list. I would never discourage people from keeping a to-do list. A well-done list can help you stay organized and on track throughout the day. However, I believe that those who most effectively manage their time not only have an effective to-do list, but they also have an effective don’t-do list. It does not have to be a daily don’t-do list, but I encourage you to look at things periodically and see what you can take off your plate. What things are you doing that have very little impact? Maybe you should stop doing them completely. What are you doing that has lost its effectiveness? What could use a radical makeover? What are things that you could delegate to others? This exercise will provide time for you to focus on more meaningful areas that will have a greater impact and help train and teach those that are coming behind you.
Give a don’t-do list a try. Remember, effective time management is not about doing more, it is about doing the more important.