I glanced over an excellent article this week about time management for teachers. I am including some excerpts from it here. You may also read the entire article, in two parts, by using these links:
Here are some excerpts from the articles:
Revolutionary Sunday School requires more than two four-letter words: time and work. It also requires the wisest investment of that time and work. Many teachers, directors, and pastors are spending lots of time doing Sunday School work, but they are only doing good things rather than the best things. This is the difference between being “busy” and making a difference/being effective. We all have the same amount of time. The difference is how we use the time and energy we have.
-
WRITE DOWN YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS. This is important for the teacher, director, or pastor. Seek God’s leadership. Determine what needs/dreams you need to address. Set priorities. Determine goals. Write them down!!! If you don’t write them, you probably won’t pursue them. The article says, “Use the SMART formula; make them Specific, Measurable, Appropriate, Realistic and Time-bound.” But I also want to challenge you to make sure your goals are God-sized.
-
EVERYDAY, DIVIDE YOUR TASKS INTO A, B, AND C PRIORITIES. Another way to do this is the way Ivy Lee suggested to Charles Schwab back in 1925 when Schwab was president of Bethlehem Steel. Ivy told him to write down the six most important things Charles had to do tomorrow and then number them in order of importance. Then start working on number one the next day until it is complete, and then work on number two. That is the idea behind the A, B, and C priorities, especially when your list has more than six priority items for tomorrow. The article says, “Always start with a high priority ‘A’ task, even if you can only accomplish a small part of it.” And avoid spending all of your time putting out fires so that you don’t have enough to figure deal with prevention!
-
BLOCK OFF TIME FOR ACTIVITIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT. Notice the end word, “important.” Determine what is important. Then schedule the time it deserves. If you don’t, you won’t be prepared or do it well. This is true for prayer, planning, and people.
-
STOP SPENDING TIME ON TRIVIA. Give away what others can do. Allow them to make a difference by being involved in important ways. Focus on what is important. This is harder for some personalities than it is for others. Prepare well, but don’t stress yourself out over-preparing. Simplify. Reduce. Focus. Get your Sunday School secretary to up a system for ordering literature. Ask your class outreach leader to put a contact process in place. Ask teachers to enlist their own substitutes.
-
HAVE COURAGE TO SAY NO. Being revolutionary means making tough choices. You cannot do everything and make the most difference. Have the guts to stand by your goals, priorities, and schedule. Realize that time management is not about trying to please everyone. For instance, as churches grow, pastors may have to decide to make only hospital visits to teachers, deacons, and key church leaders while depending on teachers to make visits to their class members.
-
ALWAYS START MEETINGS ON TIME. When you start late, multiply the time you are wasting times the number of persons in the room. Don’t teach your class or group members to show up late by starting late. I like the article’s suggestion: “Do something however minor, but get started.” This is true for class sessions, teacher training sessions, planning meetings, and even appointments.
-
SLOW DOWN. This sounds wrong, but it’s not. Look people in the face. Slow down to listen in every interaction (in the long run, it will aid communication and reduce misunderstandings and problems). Take time to enjoy the moment. Don’t “get ahead” of God. Wait on Him. Celebrate His blessings and answers. Share responsibility and work to enjoy the process. Celebrate successes. I remember when I did this in my greeting time before worship, and it deepened relationships and awareness of needs of people in my interactions.
-
AVOID PROCRASTINATION BY COMPLETING UNPLEASANT TASKS FIRST. In general, I diagree with this one. I believe the best method is to focus on the most important task first and so on through your priorities. But I understand it. Completing your unpleasant task first can force you to give it the attention needed to get it out of the way. And then you can focus on the priority task. Working on your highest priority can be an incentive to get your unpleasant task out of the way. One way to help with this was suggested in the article: “Break complex tasks into easy pieces and give yourself a reward for getting something done.”
-
DON’T BE A SLAVE TO TECHNOLOGY. Some today are addicted to technology–to cell phones, e-mail, computers, etc. Some spend too much time developing presentations and documents rather than planning lessons and meetings. Group common tasks, such as limiting time you will respond to e-mail or make phone calls. Tell your class your normal bedtime and take advantage of voice mail during these times.
-
CREATE TIME FOR BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE. Schedule time for you. Schedule time for family, Schedule time for God. Schedule time for fun. Plan balance into your life. If you don’t do it intentionally, no one else will for you. When stress increases, work harder to create balance. Block out periods of time. Regularly look over your coming schedule for the week, month, and year.
Where do you need to focus with these five items? What about the ten tips from P art 1 and Part 2? Don’t work on all ten of these at once. Focus on one until it has become a comfortable part of your routine, then begin working on the next area of need. Don’t just be busy!
Source: The Sunday School Revolutionary!
http://www1.kybaptist.org/kbc/blogs/ssrb.nsf/dx/01292008102516PMWEB62E.htm
http://www1.kybaptist.org/kbc/blogs/ssrb.nsf/dx/01302008111927PMSER748.htm
