What are the most effective time management strategies for project managers with lots of meetings?
Learn from the community’s knowledge. Experts are adding insights into this AI-powered collaborative article, and you could too.
This is a new type of article that we started with the help of AI, and experts are taking it forward by sharing their thoughts directly into each section.
If you’d like to contribute, request an invite by liking or reacting to this article. Learn more
— The LinkedIn Team
As a project manager, you have to juggle multiple tasks, deadlines, and stakeholders, while also attending lots of meetings. How can you manage your time effectively and avoid getting overwhelmed by your busy schedule? Here are some of the most effective time management strategies for project managers with lots of meetings.
Before you start your day, make a list of your most important and urgent tasks, and rank them according to their impact and value. This will help you focus on the tasks that matter the most, and avoid getting distracted by less relevant or low-priority activities. You can use a matrix or a tool like the Eisenhower method to help you prioritize your tasks.
-
Nnenna Nwabufo
Director General, East Africa Region at African Development Bank Group
1. Prioritize Wisely: Identify your most crucial tasks and focus your energy there. High-priority activities that align with your project goals should always come first. 2. Set Clear Objectives: Define your goals for each meeting. Having a clear agenda not only keeps discussions on track but also ensures you achieve what you set out to accomplish. 3. Time Blocking is Key: Allocate specific time blocks for meetings and concentrated project work. Avoid multitasking during meetings; instead, engage fully and give your undivided attention. 4. Delegate Smartly: Trust your team and delegate tasks based on their expertise and workload. Effective delegation opens up space for you to concentrate on the strategic aspects of the project.
-
Murk Larik
CountryDirector|Ecoprenuer|Climate Adaptation Expert| Climate Governance Expert|Researcher|PMP|ProjectPortfolioSpecialist|GlobalEyeHealthHero2020|101WomenCEOsPakistan|BusinessGraduate
Effective time management strategies for project managers with many meetings can be: Prioritize and limit meetings. Set clear objectives and agendas. Timebox meetings. Use technology. Batch meetings. Delegate meeting tasks. Decline unnecessary meetings. Block meeting-free work time. Regularly review and adjust. Use brief stand-up meetings. Record meetings when needed
-
Adeel Ahmad Khan
Manufacturing Operations - End To End Supply Chain Professional, Factory Manager, Plant Manager, Head Of Manufacturing, General Manager (Food Production, Beverages Production, FMCG Production)
Always do the even swapping while prioritizing tasks and activities while keeping contigency plan in hand and readily available with achieving the same objective
Meetings can be a major time sink if they are not planned and conducted well, so it's important to make the most of them. To do this, you should set a clear agenda and objectives for each meeting and share them with participants in advance. You should also invite only the relevant and necessary people to the meeting, allocating a specific time slot for each one. Additionally, you should start and end the meeting on time, without unnecessary interruptions or digressions. Finally, using a meeting management tool or app can help you schedule, organize, track your meetings, record the action items and outcomes, and share them with attendees.
-
Akshay Makar
On a mission to help next-gen Entrepreneurs to build and scale their Business | Founder & CEO Climatenza Solar & Net0link | Business Mentor | Forbes 30u30 | TEDx Speaker | Shortlisted in Top 4 Commonwealth Awards
In the technology industry, efficient meetings are crucial for fostering collaboration and innovation. Take a software development company as an example. To optimize their meetings, the team establishes a clear agenda and specific objectives for each session. This information is shared with participants beforehand. By doing so, attendees come prepared, understanding the purpose and topics to be discussed. This proactive approach ensures that meetings stay focused, allowing team members to address key issues, brainstorm ideas, and make informed decisions. With well-planned agendas, the company maximizes productivity, making the most out of their collaborative efforts and valuable time.
-
Banan Aqraa, (PMP)®
Software Project Manager | PMP, Software Project Management
In my experience, the meetings agenda is highly required to ensure that we know what we will discuss exactly without wasting our and others time. Start the meeting on time is an important step for professional people and managers
-
Sayantan Saha
Curator of TEDxSIUHinjewadi || PR - SPOC of iTELF (E-Cell) || Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology (SCIT) '24 || MBA || Ex - Wipro Limited
For every meeting, make sure to have a clear agenda and follow it. Additionally, limit the number of guests to those who really need to attend, and schedule brief meetings.
As a project manager, you don't have to do everything yourself. Leveraging your team's skills and strengths, and delegating or outsourcing some of the tasks that are not within your core competencies or responsibilities can free up some of your time so you can focus on the tasks that only you can do. To delegate or outsource effectively, identify the tasks that can be delegated or outsourced, and the best person or service to do them. Additionally, communicate clearly the expectations, deadlines, and feedback mechanisms for each task. Monitor the progress and quality of the delegated or outsourced tasks, and provide support and guidance when needed.
-
Muhammad Hanana
Project Management | Sustainability | Business Development
My mentor once told me a valuable advice: A successful manager is one who has a team that consistently performs at a high level, even in their absence. The key to achieving this is through effective delegation. By delegating tasks, managers not only gain more time and capacity to handle a heavy workload, but also have the opportunity to nurture and develop their teams by assigning them a diverse range of responsibilities.
(edited) -
Maria Rosa Torres Sejin
Global Strategic Programme Manager PMP®| Diversity & Inclusion | Cultural & Change Transformations | Co Founder | Board Member | We are the City Raising Star Banking & Markets award winner ‘23
Delegating and outsourcing tasks effectively is a fundamental skill for project managers. It not only allows you to leverage your team's strengths but also ensures that you can focus on your core responsibilities. Clear communication, well-defined expectations, and ongoing monitoring are key components of successful delegation and outsourcing. This approach can enhance overall project efficiency and success.
-
Anthony Read (リード・アンソニー)
U.S. Diplomat | International Affairs Professional | Program Manager | Coach
When delegating, you should ensure that your team knows you support them and the decisions that they make on your behalf. When delegating, ensure that your team members have the confidence to pick up the tasks that you are assigning them. Also, ensure they know they can come back to you for advice and guidance as the delegated task progresses. I've been in situations where I have delegated, and the team member is technically capable of carrying out the work but is afraid of being responsible. Remind them they have authority but responsibility still resides with the team leader.
Time blocking is a technique that involves dividing your day into chunks of time dedicated to specific tasks or activities. This can help you stay focused and productive, while avoiding multitasking, procrastination, and distractions. To use time blocking effectively, you should estimate how much time each task will take and assign a time block for it in your calendar. It's also wise to group related tasks together and schedule them in the same time block. Additionally, consider reserving some time blocks for meetings, breaks, and emergencies, as well as leaving some buffer time between different blocks. Lastly, try to follow your time blocks as closely as possible and avoid switching or skipping tasks unless absolutely necessary.
-
Akshay Makar
On a mission to help next-gen Entrepreneurs to build and scale their Business | Founder & CEO Climatenza Solar & Net0link | Business Mentor | Forbes 30u30 | TEDx Speaker | Shortlisted in Top 4 Commonwealth Awards
In the field of digital marketing, time blocking proves essential for maximizing productivity. Consider a social media manager tasked with content creation, analytics review, and campaign planning. By allocating specific time blocks for each task, such as mornings for content creation, afternoons for analytics, and evenings for planning, the manager ensures undivided attention to each activity. This focused approach reduces multitasking, curbs procrastination, and minimizes distractions, enabling the marketer to produce high-quality content, analyze data effectively, and strategize impactful campaigns. Time blocking enhances efficiency, allowing professionals to meet deadlines and deliver optimal results in the fast-paced digital landscape.
-
Maria Rosa Torres Sejin
Global Strategic Programme Manager PMP®| Diversity & Inclusion | Cultural & Change Transformations | Co Founder | Board Member | We are the City Raising Star Banking & Markets award winner ‘23
Time blocking is an excellent time management technique that can significantly enhance your productivity. By allocating dedicated chunks of time to specific tasks, you can maintain focus and minimize distractions. Grouping related tasks and allowing for flexibility in your schedule with buffer time can further improve your efficiency. Sticking to your time blocks whenever possible helps you make the most of your day.
-
Ana Valdes
DeFi Founder | COO at Vaultoro | Techstars Mentor & Berlin 2017 alumni | Blockchain & FinTech | Compliance | Crypto | DeFi & Web 3
In the era of multitasking focusing on 1 thing can seem daunting but I can assure you it is necessary. If you do not block something in your calendar you will still be busy with something else. So, choose wisely and make the decision to block time for work, meetings and personal stuff.
At the end of each day or week, it’s important to review and reflect on your time management performance. This will help you understand what worked well and what didn't, and how you can improve. To do this, track and measure how much time you spent on each task and activity, then compare it with your planned time blocks. Analyze the results and outcomes of your tasks and activities, evaluating their impact and value. Additionally, identify the factors that helped or hindered your time management such as interruptions, distractions, delays, or errors. Finally, make adjustments to your time management strategies and plans, setting new goals and priorities for the next day or week.
-
Akshay Makar
On a mission to help next-gen Entrepreneurs to build and scale their Business | Founder & CEO Climatenza Solar & Net0link | Business Mentor | Forbes 30u30 | TEDx Speaker | Shortlisted in Top 4 Commonwealth Awards
In the hospitality industry, effective time management is paramount for delivering exceptional guest experiences. Imagine a hotel manager overseeing daily operations, including staff management, guest services, and administrative tasks. At end of each week, manager reflects on time management performance. They meticulously track and measure the time spent on each task, comparing it with their planned time blocks. By analyzing this data, the manager gains insights into their efficiency. They can identify which tasks took longer than anticipated, pinpoint potential bottlenecks, and recognize successful allocations. This reflective process enables the manager to make informed adjustments, optimizing their schedule for improved productivity.
-
Maria Rosa Torres Sejin
Global Strategic Programme Manager PMP®| Diversity & Inclusion | Cultural & Change Transformations | Co Founder | Board Member | We are the City Raising Star Banking & Markets award winner ‘23
Reviewing and reflecting on your time management performance is a crucial step in continuous improvement. It allows you to learn from your experiences, identify areas for enhancement, and adjust your strategies accordingly. By tracking and analyzing how you allocate your time and assessing the factors that affect your productivity, you can optimize your time management practices and set meaningful goals for future productivity.
-
Sabyasachi Gupta
Immediate Joiner | Available for Immediate Employment
I found the article to be a valuable resource for time management strategies. It's clear that project managers with a busy schedule, like myself, can greatly benefit from these techniques. What really resonated with me is the importance of daily reflection and review. I can relate to the initial challenges of missing daily objectives and feeling like something was always amiss. It wasn't until I started allocating just 30 minutes each day for reflection and review that I truly gained control over my time. This allowed me to identify where I was spending excessive time and distractions. With a consistent daily review, I managed to stay focused and consistently reach my daily goals.
-
John K.
Set limits for yourself and find the right balance between work and home life. Some people thrive on working long hours and putting in extra time on weekends and holidays whereas others can burn out when trying to. Everyone has their own limits and everyone can burn out at different times - this doesn't mean that one person is a "better" or "harder" worker than another simply because they put in more hours per week. Your time and mental acuity are your most valuable assets and you should do everything in your power to preserve them. Things like screening calls, setting email sync schedules, and disabling audible notifications for work apps might sound selfish but they can make the difference between being truly productive and crashing.