How to gain five hours a week in an emergency
Rod Benson
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1. Clear your desktop.

2. Get up 15 minutes earlier.

3. Plan your day first thing in the morning and set priorities for
the day.

4. Stop reading newspapers and watching television.

5. Delay unnecessary reading and read only the parts of books you
need to read.

6. Only work on important matters (80 percent of the value comes
from 20 percent of the tasks)

7. Deal only with the people who make things happen.

8. Distinguish between information and relation (relational issues
take time so postpone these during emergencies).

9. Utilise a secretary for informational issues (but not
relational ones).

10. Ask permission to say ‘no’.

11. Delegate everything you can to others.

12. Generate as little paperwork as possible and keep only
essential documents.

13. Handle each piece of paper only once.

14. Protect personal energy (eat less, exercise more, get enough
sleep).

15. Schedule work according to productive hours.

16. Compile a list of ‘second-wind’ jobs that refresh you.

17. Discipline your time alone to think about important issues.

18. Make no radical changes.

19. Leave meetings first.

20. Stay out of sight.

Based on material in Fred Smith, "Learning to Lead," in
Christianity Today (1986); and in an article, "Teacher
Burnout" (NEA Publication, n.d.).

Rod Benson
Sydney, Australia