TIME MANAGEMENT TRAINING: FROM THE WISDOM OF STEPHEN COVEY'S 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE

Time Management is an essential part of our life. It has a great impact on our productivity and living. We fail to obtain delighting results in life because we aren't trained well. Time Management is the science of increasing productivity with the help of time's power. You would need time management training in order to learn how you can manage things. Humans spend time in four different dimensions which were elaborated in “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey. This blog is intended to deliver the elaboration of the four quadrants of Time Management conveyed in the famous book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”. Here it goes:

How can these four quadrants help you in managing your precious time?

Inevitably, what you do right now has a direct effect on the future. Time spending varies from person to person. Some people spend quality time and earn fascinating results. It is entirely the consequence of where and how you invest your time.

Let’s dig out the secret of time management using the 4 Quadrant model:

QUADRANT I: Activities that are important as well as urgent:

Some tasks and activities are important as well as urgent because they are directly in connection with your economical social, psychological and emotional status. When you are employed in an organization and your boss commands you to complete an assignment within a given deadline, you are liable to respond immediately. Such activities become important because they are associated with your job as well as urgent as your job productivity relies on it. Reluctantly, Quadrant 1 tasks can be overwhelming because they appear from time to time and fall entirely into your sole accountability. Everybody is liable to respond immediately to the rising crises and emergencies which takes our time.

QUADRANT II: ACTIVITIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT BUT NOT URGENT

People achieving great success today are the ones who usually spend time in Quadrant II activities. This Quadrant involves activities that urge you to sit back and plan in detail for improving the quality of your life. Your reading habit formation, financial planning, establishing and maintaining relationships with people, exercising for good health, and attending seminars in order to assure self-development are other activities that fall into this Quadrant.  

QUADRANT III: NOT IMPORTANT BUT URGENT ACTIVITIES

There are some phone calls, emails, business or personal meetings which can be unimportant to you. These things are urgent according to the 4 Quadrant Time Management Model but they aren’t important. It depends on you whether how you are going to respond to them.

QUADRANT IV: ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE NEITHER IMPORTANT NOR URGENT

Quadrant IV is fun. It involves profoundly unimportant and not urgent activities which seem to be entertaining, satisfying, and short-term relieving. Activities like using social media and phone excessively, watching television without any mindful intention, unwanted shopping, and wandering somewhere without purpose.

WHAT TO DO AFTER GRASPING THE CONCEPT OF 4 QUADRANTS OF TIME MANAGEMENT

QUADRANT I

People who spend time in this Quadrant remain stressed all the time. No one can ignore the rising crises and emergencies of this Quadrant. Stephen Covey has suggested people manage these activities. They are an essential part of our life and can arise anytime.

QUADRANT II

Quadrant II has no immediate effect on you, directly. It takes time to observe the results of activities you have been attempting in Quadrant II. Apparently, this Quadrant may seem fruitless and no fun. Many people procrastinate when it comes to self-development but those who surmount this hurdle, gain gigantic rewards after a span of time. World’s most successful people have been observed to spend time in this Quadrant which enables them to achieve as they plan. Quadrant II ensure your success hence Stephen Covey suggests to focus on this Quadrant so that you can endure long-term happiness and success.

QUADRANT III

Those who seem to be engaged in this Quadrant are actually wasting their time. Unimportant things can be avoided without any consequences. Stephen Covey urges people to avoid giving these activities space in their time management system in order to use that time in some productive activities.

QUADRANT IV

Quadrant IV activities offer great amount of fun. Time may fly when you are into the activities of this Quadrant but there’s no fruit in spending time in this Quadrant. You must make efforts to limit the activities of this Quadrant as much as possible.