Skills for New Managers, 2nd Edition

Chapter 9The Organized Manager

Todd’s job kept him on the move. As a risk manager for a big corporation, he’d spend most days visiting field offices and inspecting their facilities for safety hazards. He didn’t set a specific time for people to expect him at each stop, so he could make his own schedule and show up at branch offices whenever he wanted.

When Todd was promoted to supervisor, he needed to overhaul his approach to time management. He had meetings to attend, schedules to stick to, and activity reports to complete by set deadlines. Suddenly, the clock played a vital role in his daily job. He had to find a way to work more productively and sharpen his organizational skills.

Most new managers experience the same bracing realization. They’re ...