Practical Tips: Estimate Accurately

A constant refrain around the workplace is that there is not enough time in the day. Part of the reason we feel that way is that we underestimate how much time it takes to complete projects, which leads to unrealistic deadlines. The usual culprit is that we estimate in a vacuum without including the inevitable interruptions every day brings. Try this experiment to help you get a better handle on your time.

When you get ready to start a project, estimate how long it will take you. Use your cell phone as a timer, set an alarm for the specified amount of time, and see what happens. If you’re like most people, you will run out of time before you have completed the project. So the next time you’re asked to provide a due date for that deliverable, you’ll be better able to give a realistic estimate, which will take some of the pressure off.

You can also use this timer trick to keep you from wasting time online. Give yourself a set amount of time to check e-mail and when the alarm goes off, move on. It is amazing how much more you will get done in a day when you become hyper-aware of how much actual time has passed.

You are welcome to reprint this article as long as you include the following in its entirety: Reprinted from “Our Corporate Life®,” a biweekly ezine featuring practical tips and tools for navigating the corporate world. © MMXI Amanda Mitchell, Our Corporate Life, LLC. Subscribe at www.ourcorporatelife.com