Week 6 Discussion - Managing Interruptions

Managing Interruptions

Monday, November 25, 2019, 4:37 PM

 

How does this quote resonate with you?

I have learned that organization and time management is key to being an administrator. If you do not make time in your day to organize a priority list based on importance, you will find yourself sinking in a position that requires you to tread water. By planning, you can free up more time in the future. I have learned I cannot control time, but I can control how I manage time. I also have learned my checklist never ends. I often find myself delaying the activity or point at the bottom of the checklist because it is not important. However, the point can stay there for over 2 weeks. I have found I need to force myself to move that point up to the top of the list or it will remain at the bottom. Thus demonstrating control of time requires discipline.

Have you already experienced this in your internship, or perhaps observed it in your school?

You cannot plan for the unexpected. However, you can plan to have the skills and tools to deal with the unexpected. The internship has taught me this in that students, parents, or staff members can bring anything to a given day. Something may occupy the entire day and it can overtake all aspects of the day. However, due to planning you automatically know where you need to go after one task is completed. If there was no checklist or mental checklist, I would constantly be backed up and forgetting what to complete next.

What does it mean to you to have greater freedom because you have control of your time? Give some examples where you have found this to be true.

I have found that planning frees up time because you are not backtracking to something you forgot. I have learned that I must write everything down someone tells me. If not I will immediately forget. I have taken on the habit of carrying a notebook everywhere I go. If I do not have the notepad, I strongly encourage the person I am talking to to email me. This way I can add the agenda items to my notepad immediately. It only took about a week into my internship that I adopted the idea of giving myself more freedom by writing everything down. By writing myself notes, I have provided myself greater freedom in eliminating problems in regards to communication.