HBR 20-Minute Manager Boxed Set (10 Books) (HBR 20-Minute Manager Series)

Execute Your Plan: Time Boxing

41

levels go down or if you’re distracted. But when

you set time constraints, you’re more likely to

keep your attention on the project at hand.

• Effectiveness. Do you spend too much time

tweaking emails or slide decks once they’re es-

sentially complete? There’s nothing wrong with

trying to get something right, but sometimes

good enough is good enough. Setting a time

limit will help to quell the urge to spend too

much time on minor, inconsequential details

and force you to see the big picture instead.

You can adapt time boxing to your needs and pref-

erences. If your job has a lot of moving parts—that is,

if you need to manage a lot of competing responsi-

bilities, deadlines, and projects—then you may fi nd

that you’ ...