12 Best Practices In Time Management Training For Employees  

Mark Talmage-Rostron
November 11, 2023 · 10 min read

Time. It's an extremely valuable commodity and sadly one that it would seem abundant on one hand, but very scarce on the other. Time just seems to whiz by, which is probably why the well known expression, "Time waits for no man," was coined. It's also very interesting to note that many people make a point of saying that time seems to drag during the working week, but seems to speed up on the weekends, as if someone has a finger on the fast forward button. That said, if people are working in a very busy environment, and employees are feeling under the pump to get multiple tasks done, that thought process really does not hold water.

This is why time management online courses and online training for employees helping them with mastering time and work hours is of critical importance in order to get the most out of your people, yet at the same time ensure that you don't burn them out, and risk losing them to other employers who assist them in finding ways to manage time but still maintain absolute control of their workloads.

Poor time management can have all sorts of negative impacts for a business and mean that many employees may not be able to complete their work on time. Time management training gives employees more control of their time spent at work and the ability to complete their tasks on time.

12 Time Management Training For Employees - Skills & Strategies

1. Tailor the training to meet employee needs

Successful time management training to meet the specific needs of a company and its employees will ensure that the training program that is created can be as effective as possible and actively engage more people by giving them the skills they need to cope with higher workloads better. Tailored training sessions can be achieved by; conducting a needs assessment, customizing the training program, incorporating practical exercises, and providing ongoing support to help give employees set goals.

2. Clearly communicate the objectives and goals 

This is one of the most important practices for time management training and by doing this well you will ensure that best practice for time management is set and that employees are all pulling in the same direction, each know what they have to specifically do in the process, and that tasks are completed on time, every time. Help your employees accomplish this through time management skills training by creating an overview, using clear and concise language, using visual aids, providing examples, and communicating expectations. 

3. Provide training materials that are engaging, interactive, and visually appealing

When it comes to effective and online time management training there can be no 'one size fits all' solution that can help employees manage their time better. A certain training method may work for one, but not for others.  And it needs to be exciting. Hence you need to construct time tracking tools and training materials that are engaging, interactive, visually appealing, but above all else, helps employees to use their time effectively. People have short attention spans, so you need to grab their attention fast, and keep it throughout. The use of multimedia elements such as images, videos, and infographics can help when you need to provide time management training to employees.

4. Prioritize Tasks 

Showing people how to prioritizing tasks is especially applicable to employees and is an essential aspect of effective time management training and employee time management training strategies as it empowers them to make informed choices, work efficiently, align their efforts with organizational goals, and reduce stress. Prioritizing tasks is part of the effective time management skills that enhances productivity and ensures that valuable time and resources are allocated to the most critical activities and that employees are not spending too much time on frivolous activities.  

5. Create a daily plan

When it comes to one if the best tips for successful time management, employees in leadership positions need to create a daily plan for staff as it is an important practice in helping employees procure the skills they need to manage their time more effectively because it provides them with direction, optimizes time allocation, organizes work, tracks progress, raises time awareness, enables adaptability, reduces stress, promotes accountability, and supports a healthy work-life balance. Creating a daily plan is an efficient time management tool and one of the best time management techniques for enhancing productivity, focus, and overall effectiveness in the workplace.

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6. Avoid Procrastination

Avoiding procrastination is crucial in time management training to employees to practice as it will help workers to maintain productivity, meet deadlines, reduce their stress levels, ensure they deliver quality work, build a professional reputation, enhance their time management skills, and create a pathway for personal growth. In short it empowers employees to take control of their time and tasks, leading to improved efficiency and success.

7. Minimize Distractions

Minimizing distractions is a critical aspect of time management training because it enables employees to enhance their focus on important tasks, increases their productivity, helps them to complete tasks efficiently, improves their quality of work, reduces stress, optimizes time management efforts, fosters creativity, increases engagement, and improves the efficiency in the way that they work. In short it is an essential skill for achieving optimal performance and you should encourage your employees to maximize the use of their available time.

8. Delegate Tasks

One of the best tips to maximize productivity and allow workers control over their workload and better manage their time is by delegating tasks. It is a crucial aspect of time management training as it optimizes people's time utilization, leverages skills, increases productivity, enables more of a focus on core responsibilities, promotes skill development and collaboration, facilitates resource allocation, empowers employees, builds trust, mitigates risks, and fosters leadership development. In short it is an excellent time management practice for managers and employees and helps enhance overall efficiency and effectiveness within the organization.

9. Manage Email and Communication

Managing email and communication in time management training is an option for employees and one of those effective management tips to avoid information overload, use their time more efficiently, helps prioritize communication, prevents time wasting miscommunication, sets boundaries, streamlines collaboration, eliminates duplication, improve customer service, and enhance focus and productivity. In short it is an essential skill for effective time management and overall organizational success.

10. Time Blocking

Teaching the art of time blocking in time management training is one of the best practices and strategies to help employees in time management to prioritize tasks, improve focus and concentration, enhance time awareness, manage workflow efficiently, plan proactively, effectively manage tasks, adapt to changes, boost work efficiency, and foster self-accountability. In short it is a valuable technique for optimizing time utilization and maximizing productivity.

11. Use Productivity Tools

Using productivity tools in time management training enables employees effective use of time to organize tasks, track time, collaborate effectively, streamline workflows, manage priorities, minimize distractions, track goals, manage data and information, optimize time utilization, and foster continuous improvement to develop effective time management. In short these tools provide valuable resources and capabilities for enhancing productivity, efficiency, and overall time management practices.

12. Foster a Work-Life Balance

Fostering a work-life balance in time management training improves employee well-being, prevents burnout, enhances productivity, contributes to retention and recruitment, improves time management skills, enhances creativity and problem-solving, promotes a healthy work culture, boosts employee engagement, improves relationships, and encourages work-life integration. In short it is a crucial aspect of creating a supportive and fulfilling work environment and one is arguably the greatest time management benefits.


Looking to improve your employee's time management skills?

This is applicable to employees in leadership across the board. Since time management training is vital, you need to know about time management training methodology's which is why you should consider Nexford's Leadership management and teams course, and Leadership and organizational development course. Nexford is a 100% online next-generation university that offers skills-based MBA and BBA programs. 

Discover how you can acquire the most in-demand skills that will assist in effective time management when you Download the free report today!


time management training for employees

FAQs

What is time management?  

Time management refers to the process of planning and organizing how you allocate your time to various tasks, activities, and responsibilities in order to maximize productivity and achieve your goals. It involves making conscious choices about what tasks to prioritize, setting deadlines, and efficiently allocating time to each task or activity. It is a valuable skill that can be applied to various aspects of life, including work, studies, personal projects, and daily routines, helping individuals make the most of their time and achieve their desired outcomes.

What are the 4 P’s of time management? 

The 4 P's of time management are a framework that highlights key aspects to consider when managing time effectively. They are prioritize, plan, procrastination, and productivity. By applying these 4 P's of time management, it will let employees enhance their ability to prioritize tasks, create effective plans, overcome procrastination, and increase overall productivity, leading to better time management and achievement of desired outcomes.

Benefits of time management training for employees 

Time management training can offer several benefits for employees in the workplace and they are; improved productivity, reduced stress levels, enhanced work quality, hitting tight deadlines, and improved work-life balance, increased accountability, and more effective decision making. These benefits not only contribute to individual success but also positively impact team performance and organizational outcomes.  

Challenges of time management training for employees 

While time management training offers numerous benefits, there are some challenges that organizations may face when implementing such training for employees. The list in not exhaustive but includes; resistance to change, lack of reinforcement and follow-up, individual differences in learning styles, time constraints, lack of organizational support, and sustaining motivation and engagement. By anticipating and addressing these challenges, organizations can increase the effectiveness of time management training and support employees in developing valuable skills for enhanced productivity and work-life balance.

Learn how to develop the most in-demand skills for your future career!

Discover how you can acquire the most in-demand skills with our free report, and open the doors to a successful career. 

Download the free report today!

Should you invest in a time management training course for your employees?

Deciding whether to invest in a time management training course for your employees depends on several factors specific to your organization's needs and goals. These include; assessing current challenges, identifying goals, evaluating the training options, considering cost and resources, establishing employee readiness and confidence, looking at long-term impact and sustainability, and considering alternative solutions. Ultimately, the decision to invest in a time management training course should be based on a careful assessment of your organization's needs, goals, and available resources. It can be a valuable investment if it addresses specific challenges and aligns with your desired outcomes, leading to improved productivity, reduced stress, and a healthier work environment.

What are the best time management training programs? 

There are numerous time management training programs and time management training classes available, and the best program for your organization depends on your specific needs, goals, and preferences. There are many to consider, but the top ones to consider if employees are feeling unproductive include; Franklin Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", "Getting Things Done (GTD") by David Allen, Tony Robbins' "Time of Your Life", Dale Carnegie Training's Time Management: "Organize and Prioritize for Peak Performance", and MindTools Time Management Training. It's important to thoroughly research each program, review their content, and consider feedback from previous participants to determine which program aligns best with your organization's needs. Additionally, consider factors such as cost, delivery format (in-person or online), and availability of ongoing support or resources.


Conclusion - What's the most successful time management training strategy?

We could all do with a happier and more productive workforce and find ways to work smarter and not harder to avoid burnout. So it is highly important that organizations know how much time to invest in effective employee time management training. This will help spot time-consuming and unnecessary activities, ensuring they work on other important tasks. Investing in time management has been proven to improve productivity, enhance efficiency, show employees how to meet tight deadlines, reduce stress, increase focus, make sure that employees have a strong chance of achieving their goals and growing professionally. It can also help improve they way they collaborate, improve adaptability, resilience, and overall organizational success. In short it is an investment that yields significant returns in employee performance, well-being, and organizational outcomes by helping employees understand the importance and urgency of time management that ensures employees work smarter, not harder by reducing the number of tasks they have to carry out, which ensures they complete their work on time. 

Looking to improve your employee's time management skills?

Management training is used to teach employees and help to improve their time management. It can encapsulate a great many things such as reducing how much time an employee spends at work when compared to a healthy family and social life, delegating tasks, and rolling out time management tools like managing email and communication and time blocking to help employees stay motivated and productive and stop them wasting time.

This is applicable to employees in leadership across the board. Since time management training is vital, you need to know about time management training methodology's which is why you should consider Nexford's Leadership management and teams course, and Leadership and organizational development course. Nexford is a 100% online next-generation university that offers skills-based MBA and BBA programs. 

Discover how you can acquire the most in-demand skills that will assist in effective time management when you Download the free report today!

About the author
Mark Talmage-Rostron
Mark Talmage-Rostron

Mark is a college graduate with Honours in Copywriting. He is the Content Marketing Manager at Nexford, creating engaging, thought-provoking, and action-oriented content.

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