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Five Time Management Power Questions
Questions have the power to instantly change your focus and put you into a productive frame of mind.
The Five Power Questions best practice consists of five questions you can ask habitually throughout the day to help you make the best use of your time. These questions will immediately direct your focus, your attention, and your thinking towards your top priorities and away from distractions.
Time Management Question # 1
The first question is what is the most valuable use of my time right now? This is a slight variation of “Lakein’s Question” developed by time management expert Alan Lakein.
The purpose of this question is to focus your mind on what is most important and valuable at this moment. It is a perfect question to ask whenever you are unsure about what to work on next, whenever you face an unexpected interruption, or whenever you feel that you are not making good use of your time.
Time Management Question # 2
The second time management question, which was originally developed by Steve Maguire, is what am I ultimately trying to accomplish?
The purpose of this question is to focus your thinking on your real objectives and goals; the real reasons you are working on your projects and tasks.
Time Management Question # 3
The third question is what am I giving up to do this?
Remember that whenever you choose to do something, you automatically choose not to do everything else you could have done during that time.
The purpose of this question is to help you realize what you are giving up in order to undertake some other task or project. Once you recognize the true cost of any activity, you may decide that it’s not how you really want to spend your time.
Time Management Question # 4
The fourth question is what are my three most important projects or tasks today?
The purpose of this question is to help you make use of the 80/20 rule each and every day by identifying the top two or three most important projects and tasks, which could account for up to 80 percent of your day’s value.
Time Management Question # 5
The fifth question is should I continue doing this? This is a slight variation of the first two questions but shifts the focus toward what to stop doing rather than what to start doing.
The Master Your Time ebook contains more details about these questions.
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