Managing Your Time

4. Handling Information

Find ways of dealing with information overload.

4.1 Ask for the information you need in a form that suits you.

• Ask for summaries, or charts, if you find them easier to deal with.
• Consider regularly analysing or summarising the information coming in. For example, summarise reasons for complaints, and then draw up ways to tackle specific causes.

4.2 Restrict your information-gathering to what you really need to know.

• Exclude areas which are outside your responsibility and do not affect you.
• Ignore unnecessary detail.

4.3 Apply this four-part procedure to all paper that comes across your desk.

• Act on it - if it is relevant and important.
• Delegate it - if it is relevant but less important.
• File it - if it is relevant but not immediately important.
• Otherwise, bin it.

4.4 Set deadlines for making decisions.

• Do not wait until you know everything.