Superior Time Management Starts With You

Are you proactive or reactive? Many people in this industry will admit to being more reactive as they put out the day-to-day fires landscape business management brings.

But, according to Dr. K. Kay Potetz, a management consultant and an adjunct faculty member who teaches undergraduate and executive MBA programs

at Baldwin Wallace College, Berea, Ohio, owners need to be proactive in order to truly be in control of business situations and best manage their time.

“Each week, you should be defining roles, setting goals and creating specific action plans,” said Potetz, in her session “Time Management… Is it a Myth?” on Feb. 15 at the Ohio Landscape Association’s WinterGreen Expo & Conference at the IX Center in Cleveland.

“Time is not the enemy – you are,” Potetz insisted, asking attendees how strict they are about their time and how their organizations treat time. “You have to know your boundaries. This includes saying ‘no’ to some requests. You should do this politely and firmly – it’s not about playing a power game. Feel empathy over sympathy. Say, ‘I understand,’ then state your request for saying ‘no.’”

Potetz challenged attendees further by inquiring about their organizations. “Do you have a cluttered desk? Are you a list maker? Do you do things in a priority order? Do you have active interests? Do you do things with a purpose? Have you learned to say ‘no?’ Are you a constant complainer? Do you begin each day with a conscious effort to be enthusiastic? Do you procrastinate? Are you optimistic or pessimistic? Do you like to work with others or alone? Do you have empathy? Are you a perfectionist? Do you worry a lot? Do you put off making decisions?”

By answering these questions honestly, business owners can establish their goals, delegate and learn how to handle interruptions, Potetz says. “It’s not the time you put in but what you do with the time that counts,” she shared, adding an example: “Do your most important task when you’re at your best, whether that be in the morning or in the afternoon.”

For more of Potetz’s tips on being an effective manager and business owner, listen to this Lawn & Landscape podcast – “Time Management – Is it a Myth?”

Since a part of daily organization is figuring out what to do with all the paper that comes across an owner’s desk, Potetz also shared some tips on how business owners can avoid the paper shuffle. Hear her tips here in this Lawn & Landscape podcast – “Prevent the Paper Shuffle.”