10 Time Management Tips for Principals
1. Start with the Hardest Task
It’s common to put off the most difficult task of the day, which can destroy efficiency. To avoid this problem, an effective principal will tackle the biggest, most challenging task first and get it done. This will help reduce procrastination and will make the day open for other accomplishments.
2. Handle Things Once Only
Going over papers or emails multiple times a day is a waste of time. To handle everything more efficiently, set aside time to go over each item and deal with it then and there. It can then be checked off the to-do list freeing up time for other more essential work. Take action, each piece of paperwork, email, or note should be removed, filed, scheduled, or completed.
3. Take a Break
When things are piling up and becoming overwhelming, a good principal knows that a short break can help reset the brain. Sometimes, you need a change to find a solution and be refreshed to tackle tasks. Take a walk, drink a coffee, or chat with some students to break the monotony and reset the brain - this will re-energize you and make it easier to get back to work.
4. Set Solid Goals
Principals need goals to be more effective. Not a lot will be accomplished if you don’t know what you need to get done. Consider what is required to reach those goals and then focus on creating a goal-oriented plan. Goals may be set daily, weekly, monthly, and/or by the school year to support the process of moving the school ever closer to the final achievement.For example, if a principal wants to improve test scores, they need to look at what is affecting students’ learning. From there, a campus solution may be identified and implemented. This type of goal can be set by quarter, or term, or take an entire school year to achieve, but with clear goal-oriented steps toward improvement - test scores can be positively impacted.
5. Be Proactive About Upcoming Events and Decisions
Many school-related administrative tasks occur at the same time each year. For example, you’ll need to submit your budget around the same time each year, state testing calendars are set, holidays occur at specific times, etc. It’s possible to plan ahead and anticipate these events so decisions can be made ahead of time in a proactive manner instead of reactively. By the time the event comes up, the details are already managed, and everything can proceed smoothly. Proactive planning TIP: It may be helpful to use a calendar marked with notes two months ahead of every planned event or holiday as a visual mapping timeline.
6. Delegate Tasks
There’s a good reason principals have staff - from the Administrative Assistant to the teachers, collective responsibility lightens the load. While the principal can manage the biggest or most important tasks, campus contributors can also participate in campus work to tackle campus tasks. This may include contacting parents, dealing with emails, and other items that can be tedious.
7. Set Aside Time to Think
Many principals find that having a set time when they are not to be bothered aside from an emergency is best practice. Closed-door policies ensure leaders have a specific time to focus on quick campus task items, communication follow-up, and other attention-demanding tasks. Blocking off specific time on the calendar can be done daily, weekly, and bi-weekly to ensure a consistent time to focus on pending priorities without interruptions.
8. Discover Your Most Productive Time
Not everyone is most productive in the morning. In fact, some people find they have more energy in the afternoon or tend to focus best in the evening. When a principal acknowledges their most productive times, they can schedule everything to match their energy levels. Someone who finds themselves dragging in the morning can begin with tasks that require less energy. Those who wake up alert and refreshed will work best on more demanding projects in the early hours of the day.
9. Set Priorities
The simplest method to ensure time is managed correctly is to know what priorities come first. Principals should sort their tasks based on what is most important. The lesser priorities can be left for later or delegated if necessary, but it is essential to know what those are. According to this article, principals who set firm priorities have less stress and accomplish more.
10. Say No
It’s okay to decline some things. Many principals feel obligated to take on more and more even when they are overwhelmed with too many task items. This is the perfect time to say “no” and set some best practice work boundaries. It’s important to have these boundaries, or it can become impossible to do anything well due to lack of time.
6. Delegate Tasks
There’s a good reason principals have staff - from the Administrative Assistant to the teachers, collective responsibility lightens the load. While the principal can manage the biggest or most important tasks, campus contributors can also participate in campus work to tackle campus tasks. This may include contacting parents, dealing with emails, and other items that can be tedious.
7. Set Aside Time to Think
Many principals find that having a set time when they are not to be bothered aside from an emergency is best practice. Closed-door policies ensure leaders have a specific time to focus on quick campus task items, communication follow-up, and other attention-demanding tasks. Blocking off specific time on the calendar can be done daily, weekly, and bi-weekly to ensure a consistent time to focus on pending priorities without interruptions.
8. Discover Your Most Productive Time
Not everyone is most productive in the morning. In fact, some people find they have more energy in the afternoon or tend to focus best in the evening. When a principal acknowledges their most productive times, they can schedule everything to match their energy levels. Someone who finds themselves dragging in the morning can begin with tasks that require less energy. Those who wake up alert and refreshed will work best on more demanding projects in the early hours of the day.
9. Set Priorities
The simplest method to ensure time is managed correctly is to know what priorities come first. Principals should sort their tasks based on what is most important. The lesser priorities can be left for later or delegated if necessary, but it is essential to know what those are. According to this article, principals who set firm priorities have less stress and accomplish more.
10. Say No
It’s okay to decline some things. Many principals feel obligated to take on more and more even when they are overwhelmed with too many task items. This is the perfect time to say “no” and set some best practice work boundaries. It’s important to have these boundaries, or it can become impossible to do anything well due to lack of time.
