The following article provide some tips related to organizing your time. On the left of this page is a tab titled 25 TIMESAVERS which provides a list of twenty-five timesavers that may be useful to you as well as information on the book 471 TIMESAVERS FOR BUSY PEOPLE, written by Brian Harris. The other tab TIPS FOR STUDENTS provides some timesaving tips for students.
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FINDING MORE TIME FOR YOURSELF

The real solution to having more time is focusing on self-management, rather than time-management. The following provide some ideas on how to find more time for yourself each day:

Focus on what is most important. Being busy is not the same as being productive. Most people waste time by being busy and then panic when they realize the end of the day is approaching with important work still left to be completed. Identify the things that are critical to being successful in your business or job and then spend most of your time each day doing those things. Where possible, delegate time-consuming routine tasks (ie. stuffing envelopes, photocopying documents, etc.) to those staff members who are responsible for such things.

Plan your day before you begin. Set a specific time to plan your day. For some this might be first thing in the morning. For others, it might be planning for tomorrow at the end of the afternoon before leaving for home. The critical aspect of this is consistency. As planning your day becomes a regular habit you will feel less rushed throughout the day. Whether you use a simple paper “To Do” list or a similar software program one of the keys is to identify your most important tasks and establish specific timelines to complete each of these tasks. It is generally wiser to set aside more time for each task than less. As you plan your day set aside a specific time for yourself even if it’s only five or ten minutes here or there. Recognize your need to have a mental or physical break. Planning your day can help you to pace yourself and pacing can help you have a consistent level of energy throughout the day instead of collapsing into a chair once you reach home.

Avoid interruptions. Interruptions have often been identified as one of the greatest timewasters in most business settings. You are just getting started on a major project and Joe, from down the hall, drops in to chat about last night’s hockey game, or Cathy, from across the hall, needs some scissors and the simple request turns into a fifteen minute conversation related to her current personal problems. For the person working out of the home interruptions can even be more significant. A son/daughter wanders into your office needing some attention. There is work to be done in the garden, or the car needs washing, or a neighbour has just dropped over for a chat. Sometimes it is necessary to close your door in order to complete your work. For those who work at home it is important to let your family know your work schedule. Working out of the house can provide wonderful flexibility, both professionally and personally, but understanding how interruptions can hinder progress in either area is important to having the time to be successful.

Never misplace your keys. It has been said, and this is the result of research conducted in the UK, that an average adult spends the equivalent of one year over his life looking for misplaced things. Starting with your keys develop a habit of placing them in the exact place every day, whether at work or at home. Once you have established this routine for your keys then use the same principle to develop habits for things like pens, pencils, your purse/wallet, etc. These simple habits can be huge timesavers and soon you can apply the same thinking to organizing your filing and any other form of paper/computer work.

Let technology work for you. Set aside a specific time each day to respond to e-mails and telephone calls. Expect voicemail and prepare a specific action-requested response. Similarly with e-mail, be specific in your requests. Ask yourself if the material you need to give to another person could be sent by fax, e-mail, or telephone before leaving the office to do it, but realize that there are some situations where personal contact will in the end be a timesaver.

Become an expert in those tasks that occupy much of your time. Reading is a part of just about any job. With the amount of information that crosses the desks of most people these days to be able to quickly sort out what is important is a tremendous timesaver. If you know you tend to read slowly or laboriously, as some might phrase it, then it would probably be very worthwhile for you to enroll in a reading course at a local community college. A few hours once a night over part of a year improving your reading may pay dividends in time saved each day for the rest of your life. If you spend significant time each day using a specific computer program ensure that you are an expert understanding all the shortcuts the program might offer. And in the same way that your reading skills affect your daily use of time, your skills in typing on a keyboard can also affect you. There are many available courses to improve your keyboarding skills including self-directed programs. In order to have more time for yourself each day you may have to invest a little time to become an expert in a skill that is a daily requirement in your job.

Listening is time well invested. Poor communications can result in jobs having to be redone or modified thus wasting time for everyone involved. Taking the time to listen to customers to ensure that job requests and the accompanying instructions are carefully communicated can be a huge timesaver, not to mention a very effective way to keep your customers. As others are expressing their needs or concerns to you, constantly paraphrase and summarize what they are saying to ensure understanding. We spend more time listening each day than being involved in any other form of communications. Developing skills in effective listening may be one of the best investments you can make for your yourself or your employees.

Be careful that you don’t save time to create more work for yourself. There is an old saying that if you want something done then give it to a busy person. As you become more adept at managing yourself and having some disposable time at your fingertips it is important that you don’t take on more work to fill in your new available time. Schedule some quality time for yourself and for those people who are significant in your life. As you develop new routines, skills and habits that save you time reward yourself by giving the time back to you.

A cover letter should always accompany your resume. In the same way that you prepare your resume you should consider that your cover letter will help to create a first impression of yourself and may contribute to whether you get an interview for the job.
A cover letter states the job position you are applying for and provides an outline of how you are best qualified for this job (provide specific skills/abilities and how these will help you to be successful in this job and how the company will benefit from hiring you).
It is not necessary to be sending your letter and resume in response to a specific want ad you have seen somewhere. In fact, more people successfully get jobs by sending their cover letter and resumes to companies where jobs have not even been advertised. Do your homework (see JOB SEARCH SKILLS on this web site) and understand the needs of the company you are approaching.
As you write your cover letter always keep in mind the following question: “Why should the employer want to hire you?”

The following provide some tips you should consider in preparing your cover letter:

1. Use good quality bond paper.

2. Individualize each cover letter. Don’t use form letters
addressed To Whom It Concerns. Take the time to
find out exactly who the letter should be addressed to.

3. Use a letter-quality printer and use fonts that are easy
to read with a 12 pt. size generally acceptable for
most fonts.

4. Ensure that some positive aspect of your personality
shines through in some way in the cover letter.

5. Emphasize what you can do for the company
instead of what the company can do for you.

6. If someone from this company suggested you
send this letter mention this person’s name
in your cover letter.

7. It is generally accepted that a cover letter be a maximum
of one page in length. A possible outline would be to
include four paragraphs with the first outlining
why you are writing this letter and what you think
you could positively do for the company. The second
paragraph could expand on some of the skills you have
and how they would benefit the company. The third paragraph
could provide specific examples of implementing
some of your skills in previous job experiences.
The final paragraph should ask for an interview
and tell how you plan to follow this letter up
(for example with a telephone call or personal visit)
and your final sentence should thank the employer
for taking his/her valuable time to consider your application.

8. Instead of ending the letter with a sentence such as
“Please call me” or “I look forward to hearing from you”,
end with something more proactive like “I would appreciate
having an interview to discuss this further” and/or
“I will contact you by telephone in a few days
to discuss a possible interview.”

9. After writing your letter set in down for a day or two
and then look at it again before sending it.

10. After receiving an interview send a very brief
thank you letter to the employer. Always create
a positive impression of yourself. If you are
unsuccessful in getting the job this time the
positive impression you leave may help you
the next time.

Successfully obtaining a job, especially one that meets your needs, requires specific skills, focus, initiative, belief in yourself, and often persistence.

The following provide a list of the specific job search skills you can access additional information by selecting the tabs on the left of this page. It is strongly recommended that you consider all the material provided (in the order given) as these skills will best help you when you consider how they all relate to job search. The skills are as follows:

IDENTIFYING YOUR STRENGTHS
FINDING A JOB
MARKETING YOURSELF
WRITING RESUMES
COVER LETTERS
INTERVIEW SKILLS
LEAVING A LASTING IMPRESSION

This is an ideal evening presentation for parents’ groups. Workshop participants will learn how to:

ESTABLISH A HOME ENVIRONMENT THAT HELPS TO PREVENT CONFLICTS

TEACH YOUR KIDS HOW TO EXPRESS THEIR ANGER IN MORE APPROPRIATE WAYS

UNDERSTAND YOUR CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STYLE & ITS IMPACT ON YOUR ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS WITH YOUR KIDS

USE FOUR CONFLICT RESOLUTION STEPS TO HELP YOU SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVE CONFLICTS WITH YOUR KIDS IN A WINNING WAY

This workshop can be from 60 – 120 minutes depending on your time needs. The cost of this workshop is discounted for parent groups.

WINNING TOGETHER

CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN THE WORKPLACE

You can access information related to workshop presentations for your staff by selecting the below tab or you can continue on reading the following article related to conflict management:

CONFLICT RESOLUTION
by Brian Harris

It has sometimes been said that conflict is a necessary part of growth, yet for many businesses and individuals conflict results in stress, frustration, and sometimes defeat. A conflict between an employer and several employees threatens to affect production. A conflict between two colleagues stalls the progress of a project. A conflict between an employee and a customer results in a lost sale and an unhappy customer. A conflict in a marriage leads to an emotional breakdown. Conflict, in one form or another, is a daily part of our lives. Some people take conflict in stride and even seem to prosper from it while others encounter an increase in stress and sometimes disillusionment.

The following provide ten tips to help you better manage conflict, whether it is occurring in your personal life or at work. As with any other skill practice will improve your mastery of these techniques.

1) STAY CALM

Most conflicts involve other people. The basis of the conflict generally has something to do with their needs being different than your needs. When people get their backs up against a wall conflicts begin to escalate. Even if you don’t like the other person respect what they have to say. It is the old familiar phrase of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

It is also important in this first step for anyone handling the conflict to remain calm. Calmness can assist the person in handling the remainder of the steps in a rational manner.

2) BE SENSITIVE TO THE EMOTIONS INVOLVED

Conflicts tend to open a flood of emotions. As a husband and wife argue over a financial concern it doesn’t take long before the emotional outburst threatens to make the situation worse. Let the other person express his/her emotions completely before any attempt is made to resolve the problem. While expressing emotions may be healthy to individuals, solving conflicts becomes more effective when emotions have run their course.

3) PUT YOURSELF IN THE OTHER PERSON’S SHOES AS YOU ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND THEIR POSITION

As you listen to another person’s needs and views concerning the conflict, constantly paraphrase and summarize their words in a real attempt to understand what is being said. During this time make every effort to avoid the temptation to express your reactions, concerns, and views. By truly understanding another person you may gain some insights that will help resolve the conflict. When you understand their views there is a greater likelihood that they will take the time to understand your needs and interests.

4) BE ASSERTIVE IN STATING YOUR VIEWS, NEEDS, AND FEELINGS

Once you understand the other side of the conflict it is important that you become assertive in expressing your views, needs and feelings. Express these by focusing on the conflict instead of attacking the other person which will help prevent the other party from becoming defensive. When all the people involved in the conflict understand each other’s needs and views it is easier to move towards solving the conflict in a positive way.

5) FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF THE PERSONALITIES

Although people can become annoying and frustrating in a conflict situation it is important for you to focus on the actual problem instead of the personalities of those people involved in the conflict. A divorcing couple are seeking a custodial arrangement which best meets the needs of their children. When the couple begin to attack each other or use the children as an opportunity to get even with the other person, the attention given to the personalities can then have a detrimental affect on finding a solution to the problem which was in this case finding a custodial arrangement that is best for the children.

6) LEARN TO IDENTIFY A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF NEEDS OR INTERESTS

An employer and employee are involved in a conflict related to the employee’s request for a salary increase. The employer flatly refuses to grant any salary increase due to difficult economic times. The employee threatens to perform the minimum work required. The employer would like to increase business profits. The employee would like a raise. The two demands in the conflict are not necessarily incompatible. Perhaps the employee has concrete ideas on ways to increase productivity for the business. Putting some of these ideas into action could increase the employer’s profits making it easier to grant the employee the desired pay raise. Looking beyond a conflict to identify the needs and interests of the people involved can often lead to creative solutions which best help everyone involved.

7) EXPAND THE LIST OF POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

A unemployed person has reached the end of the line in suffering rejection letters. With the help of some friends a list is made of all the possible ways this person might apply for a job instead of sending letters. The list is compiled with no attempt to criticize or edit any suggestions. By expanding the possible ways to solve a problem there is often a solution that was missed because the people involved in the conflict had a pre-conceived notion as to how the conflict should be solved. Sometimes the most inflexible goals are best satisfied by the most flexible plans.

SELECT THE SOLUTION THAT WILL BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF BOTH PARTIES

The most workable solutions for conflicts are the ones that best please all the parties involved in the problem. One of the major reasons why apparent agreements end up causing more conflict is because one side perceives that the other side got the better deal. In looking at the list of possible solutions there will often be one or two possibilities that best meet the needs of both parties. If not, then attempt to agree on a process to make a fair decision in choosing the best solution. Good solutions end conflicts rather than permitting them to fester.

9) IMPLEMENT THE SOLUTION

Once a solution has been accepted by both parties it is important to take action to implement whatever was agreed upon. Successful plans have both manageable steps and specific timelines to complete each step. Procrastination in implementing a solution can undermine the most promising agreements to end conflicts.

10) UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING AT MAINTAINING YOUR SOLUTIONS

Conflicts are often the result of people doing things in a habitual manner, sometimes the result of personality and other times the result of tradition, previous agreements or contracts. We all know that habits are hard to change. Any solution to a conflict, as good as it may appear, will be unsuccessful unless a conscientious attempt is made to maintain the terms that were part of the solution. A regular review by the parties involved is integral to the ongoing success of any agreements. Such regular communication also builds a positive framework to handle future conflicts in a meaningful manner.

Students can click one of the buttons to the left to find financial aid/scholarship information related to your choice of countries. Please note that the links provided on these pages are only a partial sample of the many forms of financial aid/scholarships that may be available. Students should consult with guidance counsellors/financial aid officers in high schools/colleges/universities/government offices for more comprehensive information. Students should also note that as this site is set up to offer support to users of DISCOVERY and EXPLORATIONS the information is specifically aimed at helping high school students who are planning to enter first year of a college/university program.