1.0 2.

MANAGING YOURSELF FOR STUDY Academic skills 2.1 Critical thinking

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally. It includes the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking. Someone with critical thinking skills is able to do the following :

understand the logical connections between ideas identify, construct and evaluate arguments detect inconsistencies and common mistakes in reasoning solve problems systematically identify the relevance and importance of ideas reflect on the justification of one's own beliefs and values

Critical thinking is not a matter of accumulating information. A person with a good memory and who knows a lot of facts is not necessarily good at critical thinking. A critical thinker is able to deduce consequences from what he knows, and he knows how to make use of information to solve problems, and to seek relevant sources of information to inform himself. Critical thinking should not be confused with being argumentative or being critical of other people. Although critical thinking skills can be used in exposing fallacies and bad reasoning, critical thinking can also play an important role in cooperative reasoning and constructive tasks. Critical thinking can help us acquire knowledge, improve our theories, and strengthen arguments. We can use critical thinking to enhance work processes and improve social institutions. Some people believe that critical thinking hinders creativity because it requires following the rules of logic and rationality, but creativity might require breaking rules. This is a misconception. Critical thinking is quite compatible with thinking "out-of-the-box", challenging consensus and purusing less popular approaches. If anything, critical thinking is an essential part of creativity because we need critical thinking to evaluate and improve our creative ideas.

Importance

Critical thinking is a domain-general thinking skill. The ability to think clearly and rationally is important whatever we choose to do. If you work in education, research, finance, management or the legal profession, then critical thinking is obviously important. But critical thinking skills are not restricted to a particular subject area. Being able to think well and solve problems systematically is an asset for any career. Critical thinking is very important in the new knowledge economy. The global knowledge economy is driven by information and technology. One has to be able to deal with changes quickly and effectively. The new economy places increasing demands on flexible intellectual skills, and the ability to analyse information and integrate diverse sources of knowledge in solving problems. Good critical thinking promotes such thinking skills, and is very important in the fast-changing workplace. Critical thinking enhances language and presentation skills . Thinking clearly and systematically can improve the way we express our ideas. In learning how to analyse the logical structure of texts, critical thinking also improves comprehension abilities. Critical thinking promotes creativity. To come up with a creative solution to a problem involves not just having new ideas. It must also be the case that the new ideas being generated are useful and relevant to the task at hand. Critical thinking plays a crucial role in evaluating new ideas, selecting the best ones and modifying them if necessary Critical thinking is crucial for self-reflection. In order to live a meaningful life and to structure our lives accordingly, we need to justify and reflect on our values and decisions. Critical thinking provides the tools for this process of self-evaluation. Good critical thinking is the foundation of science and a liberal democratic society . Science requires the critical use of reason in experimentation and theory confirmation. The proper functioning of a liberal democracy requires citizens who can think critically about social issues to inform their judgments about proper governance and to overcome biases and prejudice.

Other definitions

Here are some more other definitions of critical thinking. It can be seen that they all emphasize the importance of clarity and rationality. The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is a well-known psychological test of critical thinking ability. The authors of this test define critical thinking as :

... a composite of attitudes, knowledge and skills. This composite includes: (1) attitudes of inquiry that involve an ability to recognize the existence of problems and an acceptance of the general need for evidence in support of what is asserted to be true; (2) knowledge of the nature of valid inferences, abstractions, and generalizations in which the weight or accuracy of different kinds of evidence are logically determined; and (3) skills in employing and applying the above attitudes and knowledge.

The following excerpt comes from Dr. Peter A. Facione (1990) "Critical Thinking: A Statement of Expert Consensus for Purposes of Educational Assessment and Instruction", a report for the American Philosophical Association.
"We understand critical thinking to be purposeful, self-regulatory judgment which results in interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference, as well as explanation of the evidential, conceptual, methodological, criteriological, or contextual considerations upon which that judgment is based. CT is essential as a tool of inquiry. As such, CT is a liberating force in education and a powerful resource in one's personal and civic life. While not synonymous with good thinking, CT is a pervasive and self-rectifying human phenomenon. The ideal critical thinker is habitually inquisitive, well-informed, trustful of reason, openminded, flexible, fairminded in evaluation, honest in facing personal biases, prudent in making judgments, willing to reconsider, clear about issues, orderly in complex matters, diligent in seeking relevant information, reasonable in the selection of criteria, focused in inquiry, and persistent in seeking results which are as precise as the subject and the circumstances of inquiry permit. Thus, educating good critical thinkers means working toward this ideal. It combines developing CT skills with nurturing those dispositions which consistently yield useful insights and which are the basis of a rational and democratic society."

The last excerpt comes from a statement written by Michael Scriven and Richard Paul, National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking, an organization promoting critical thinking in the US.
Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness. It entails the examination of those structures or elements of thought implicit in all reasoning: purpose, problem, or question-at-issue, assumptions, concepts, empirical grounding; reasoning leading to conclusions, implications and consequences, objections from alternative viewpoints, and frame of reference.

The following are some guidelines for critical thinking. 1. Ask questions; be willing to wonder

2. Define the problem. 3. Examine the evidence 4. Analyze assumptions and biases 5. Avoid emotional reasoning 6. Dont use either/or thinking or over generalize 7. Consider other interpretations 8. Tolerate uncertainty. Helping College Students Develop Critical Thinking Skills Angela Provitera McGlynn Objectives Participants will learn: What critical thinking, also known as deep thinking, entails How to develop discussion questions that promote critical thinking How to use specific teaching strategies that promote critical thinking Question What is the one thing you hope to learn from todays webinar? What is Critical Thinking? Critical thinking describes the process we use to uncover and check our assumptions.

Stephen Brookfield, (2006, Developing Critical Thinkers, p. 11) What is Critical Thinking? Critical thinking is, in short, self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and selfcorrective thinking. It requires rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use. It entails effective communication and problem solving abilities and a commitment to overcome our native egocentrism and sociocentrism. Paul and Elder, (2006, p.4)

What is Critical Thinking?

 Critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it (Paul and Elder, 2006, p.4)

What is Critical Thinking? The critical thinker Raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely Gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively Comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards What is Critical Thinking? The critical thinker Thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences, and Communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems What is Critical Thinking? There are four common threads that appear in most descriptions of critical thinking: Reasoned Thinking Problem Solving Fair-minded Evaluation Informed Judgments Nancy Halstead and Janice Tomson, (ETS Project, June 2006) What is Critical Thinking? It is deeper than memorization and recall of factual information. When students think critically, they think deeply; they not only know the facts, but they take the additional step of going beyond the facts to do something with them.

 Critical thinking involves reflecting on the information received, moving away from surface memorization and toward deeper levels of learning. (Joe Cuseo, Questions that Promote Deeper Thinking, Oncoursenewsetter) What is Critical Thinking? It Involves a shift away from viewing learning as the reception of information from teacher or text (in pre-packaged form) to viewing learning as an elaboration and transformation of received information into a different form by the learner. (Joe Cuseo, Questions that Promote Deeper Thinking, Oncoursenewsetter) What is Critical Thinking? This broad definition of critical thinking does not equate critical thinking with the cognitive process of evaluation or critique; instead, it incorporates evaluation as one specific form or type of critical thinking. This is an important distinction, not only for the purpose of definitional clarity, but also for the practical purpose of combating the prevalent student misconception that critical thinking means being being critical. (Joe Cuseo, Questions that Promote Deeper Thinking, Oncoursenewsetter)

Developing Discussion Questions to Promote Critical Thinking a) What are the implications of ___? (b) Why is ___ important? (c) What is another way to look at ___? Questions that ask students to reflect on their own thinking processes and to identify what particular form of critical thinking they are using metacognition (Joe Cuseo, Questions that Promote Deeper Thinking, Oncoursenewsetter) Developing Discussion Questions to Promote Critical Thinking After students have communicated their ideas, either orally via group discussions or in writing via minute papers, I periodically ask them to reflect on what type of critical thinking my question was designed to promote and whether they think they demonstrated that critical thinking in their response. I typically ask them to record their personal reflections in writing, either working individually or in pairs; in the latter case, their task is to listen and record the reflections shared by their partner.

 (Joe Cuseo, Questions that Promote Deeper Thinking, Oncoursenewsetter) Developing Discussion Questions to Promote Critical Thinking

One distinguishing characteristic of high-achieving college students is that they tend to reflect on their thought processes during learning and are aware of the cognitive strategies they use (Weinstein & Underwood, 1985). (Joe Cuseo, Questions that Promote Deeper Thinking, Oncoursenewsetter) Metacognition: Thinking about Thinking

Developing Discussion Questions to Promote Critical Thinking Additional research indicates that students can learn to engage in such metacognition (thinking about thinking) if they are regularly asked self-assessment questions, which require reflection on their own thought processes. When students learn to routinely ask themselves these questions, the depth and quality of their thinking are enhanced (Resnick, 1986)

(Joe Cuseo, Questions that Promote Deeper Thinking, Oncoursenewsetter)

Developing Discussion Questions to Promote Critical Thinking Higher-level thinking questions Open-ended questions aimed at provoking divergent thinking Go beyond knowledge-level recall Should promote evaluation and synthesis of facts and concepts Should start or end with words or phrases such as explain, compare, why (Walker, S.E. Active Learning Promotes Critical Thinking) Activity Please develop one higher-level thinking question in your discipline Please share with a partner

 Developing Discussion Questions to Promote Critical Thinking Socratic questioning Focuses on clarification Probes or explores the meaning, justification, or logical strength of a claim or position How is X similar or different from Y? Debate format gets students to see multiple sides of an issue (Walker, S.E. Active Learning Promotes Critical Thinking)

Teaching Strategies that Promote Critical Thinking Ask students to summarize in writing and orally what the teacher or another student has said Ask students to elaborate on what has been said either by giving examples and using their own words Ask students to make connections between related concepts PROMOTING ACTIVE LEARNING (How to Improve Student Learning: A Miniature Guide for those who teach) by Dr. Richard Paul and Dr. Linda Elder Teaching Strategies that Promote Critical Thinking Ask students to state the most important concept of the class thus far (Angelo and Cross,1993) Ask students to state the most confusing point of the class thus far (Angelo and Cross, 1993) Ask students to discuss any of the above with a partner for 30 seconds, and then ask them to participate in a class discussion Teaching Strategies that Promote Critical Thinking Ask students to deliberate on real-life situations such as mock jury trials Ask students to write and/or present persuasive arguments that are data and evidence based

 Get students to debate content-related material (Halstead and Tomson, 2006) Teaching Strategies that Promote Critical Thinking Get students to keep journals on their reactions and evaluations of what they read for class Create problem-solving exercises and get students to work collaboratively Give students essays to write that ask them to interpret, synthesize, analyze, and evaluate material (Halstead and Tomson, 2006) Teaching Strategies that Promote Critical Thinking JiTT Just-in-Time Teaching developed at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1996 and has since spread rapidly across disciplines, various types of institutions, and course levels Teaching Strategies that Promote Critical Thinking According to Gregor Novak, Professor Emeritus at IUPUI, who spearheaded the development of JiTT and is now co-director of the JiTTDL (digital library) project, the heart of the JiTT approach is the feedback loop formed by the students preparation outside of class that affects what happens during the subsequent inclass session. JiTT Just-in-Time Teaching JiTT incorporates web-based materials with classroom instruction to maximize the inclass and outside-of-class learning environments JiTT engages students in the course material by posting weekly questions for students that require outside of class reading and responses. JiTT Just-in-Time Teaching The instructor gathers the responses prior to the class lecture/discussion period Justin-time to use them to clarify any misconceptions about course content and then guides students through follow-up in-class activities What happens in class is determined by an analysis of students prior responses JiTT Just-in-Time Teaching

 JiTT enhances student involvement because students come to class having recently completed their web assignment; therefore, they come ready to participate. Students typically also feel empowered since they know that what will happen in class depends in part on what they and their classmates have formulated. JiTT Fosters Class Discussions JiTT Just-in-Time Teaching Highly flexible, JiTT can be adapted to different disciplines, different courses and levels, varying class schedules, and different instructor preferences. The basic component is always the feedback loop between what students do during class and what they do prior to and after class. Adding Tools to Your Trade/Art What can you do that you havent tried before to help your students develop critical thinking skills? Appendix Blooms Taxonomy and Revision Blooms Taxonomy Bloom, B.S. (1956) In 1956, Benjamin Bloom headed a group of educational psychologists who developed a classification of levels of intellectual behavior important in learning. During the 1990's a new group of cognitive psychologists, lead by Lorin Anderson (a former student of Bloom's), updated the taxonomy reflecting relevance to 21st century work (Pohl, M. Website: http://www.odu.edu/educ/roverbau/Bloom/blooms_taxonomyhtm) Blooms Taxonomy Bloom, B.S. (1956) Blooms Taxonomy used the categories knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Anderson and her colleagues changed the nouns to verbs and altered the highest levels of thinking remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating (Pohl, M. Website: http://www.odu.edu/educ/roverbau/Bloom/blooms_taxonomyhtm)

 Blooms Taxonomy Revised Version (Anderson, L.W. et al., 2000) 1. Remembering: can the student recall or remember the information? 2. Understanding: can the student explain ideas or concepts? 3. Applying: can the student use the information in a new way? 4. Analysing: can the student distinguish between the different parts? 5. Evaluating: can the student justify a stand or decision? 6. Creating: can the student create new product or point of view? 7. define, duplicate, list, memorize, recall, repeat, state 8. classify, describe, discuss, explain, identify, locate, recognize, report, select, translate, paraphrase 9. choose, demonstrate, dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret, operate, schedule, sketch, solve, use, write 10. appraise, compare, contrast, criticize, differentiate, examine, experiment, question, test 11. appraise, argue, defend, judge, support, evaluate 12. assemble, construct create, design, develop, formulate, write Blooms Taxonomy Questions Bloom, B.S. (1956) Knowledge Comprehension Application How is...an example of...? How is...related to...? Why is...significant? Retell... Who, what, when, where, how ...? Describe

 Blooms Taxonomy Questions Bloom, B.S. (1956) Analysis What are the parts or features of...? Classify...according to... Outline/diagram... How does...compare/contrast with...? What evidence can you list for...?

Blooms Taxonomy Questions Bloom, B.S. (1956) Synthesis What would you predict/infer from...? What ideas can you add to...? How would you create/design a new...? What might happen if you combined...? What solutions would you suggest for...?

Blooms Taxonomy Questions Bloom, B.S. (1956) Evaluation Do you agree...? What do you think about...? What is the most important...? Place the following in order of priority... How would you decide about...? What criteria would you use to assess...?

 Angelas most recent books by Atwood Publishing, 888 242-7101, www.atwoodpublishing.com References Anderson, L.W., Krathwohl, D.R., Airasian, P.W., & Cruikshank, K.A. (2000). A Taxonomy of Learning, Teaching, and Assessing: A Revision of Blooms Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Allyn & Bacon, 2nd. Edition. Angelo,T.A. and Cross, K.P. (1993). Classroom Assessment Techniques: A Handbook for College Teachers, Second Ed., San Francisco: Jossey-Bass References Astin, A.W. (1993) What Matters in College? Four Critical Years Revisited. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Bonwell C.C. and Eison, J.A. (1991). Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom. ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report No. 1. Washington DC: George Washington Univesity School of Education and Human Development References Bloom, B.S. (1956). Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Handbook 1:The Cognitive Domain, NY: David McKay Co., Inc. The Case for Learner-Centered Education, ON Course Newsletter, http://oncourseworkshop.com References Brookfield, S. (2006). Developing Critical Thinkers, from Workshop Materials, PowerPoints, Book Extracts, www.StephenBrookfield.com. Brufee, K.A. (1993). Collaborative learning: Higher education, interdependence, and the Authority of Knowledge, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press References Cuseo, J. (1996). Cooperative Learning: Pedagogy for Addressing Contemporary Challenges and Critical Issues in Higher Education. Stillwater, OK: New Forums Press. Cuseo, J. Oncoursenewsletter, http://www.oncourseworkshop.com/Learning030.htm Halstead, N. and Tomson, J. Unpublished, Critical Thinking, ETS Project June 2006. References

 Novak, Patterson, Gavin, & Christians Just-In-Time Teaching: Blending Active Learning with Web Technology,(1999), Benjamin Cummings Publishers Paul, R. and Elder, L. ((2006). The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts and Tools, The Foundation for CriticalThinking, www.criticalthinking.org. References Paul, R., and Elder, D. (2002). How to Improve Student Learning: A Miniature Guide for those who teach: 30 Practical Ideas. The Foundation for Critical Thinking, www.criticalthinking.org. Pohl, M. Website re Blooms Taxonomy, http://www.odu.edu/educ/roverbau/Bloom/blooms_taxonomy.htm). References Resnick, L. B. (1986). Education and learning to think. Special Report. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh, Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Walker, S. E., Active Learning Strategies to Promote Critical Thinking, 2003 JulSep, Journal of Athletic Training. 38(3): 263267. References Weinstein, C. E., & Underwood, V. L. (1985). Learning strategies: The how of learning. In J. W. Segal, S. F. Chapman, & R. Glaser (Eds.), Thinking and learning skills (pp. 241-258). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

2.2 3.0 4.0 5.0 People skills Task management skills

Time Management

It is rightly said Time and Tide wait for none. An individual should understand the value of time for him to succeed in all aspects of life. People who waste time are the ones who fail to create an identity of their own.
What is Time Management ?

Time Management refers to managing time effectively so that the right time is allocated to the right activity. Effective time management allows individuals to assign specific time slots to activities as per their importance. Time Management refers to making the best use of time as time is always limited.

Ask yourself which activity is more important and how much time should be allocated to the same? Know which work should be done earlier and which can be done a little later. Time Management plays a very important role not only in organizations but also in our personal lives. Time Management includes: i. ii. iii. Effective Planning Setting goals and objectives Setting deadlines

iv. v. vi.

Delegation of responsibilities Prioritizing activities as per their importance Spending the right time on the right activity
Effective Planning

Plan your day well in advance. Prepare a To Do List or a TASK PLAN. Jot down the important activities that need to be done in a single day against the time that should be allocated to each activity. High Priority work should come on top followed by those which do not need much of your importance at the moment. Complete pending tasks one by one. Do not begin fresh work unless you have finished your previous task. Tick the ones you have already completed. Ensure you finish the tasks within the stipulated time frame.
Setting Goals and Objectives

Working without goals and targets in an organization would be similar to a situation where the captain of the ship loses his way in the sea. Yes, you would be lost. Set targets for yourself and make sure they are realistic ones and achievable.
Setting Deadlines

Set deadlines for yourself and strive hard to complete tasks ahead of the deadlines. Do not wait for your superiors to ask you everytime. Learn to take ownership of work. One person who can best set the deadlines is you yourself. Ask yourself how much time needs to be devoted to a particular task and for how many days. Use a planner to mark the important dates against the set deadlines.
Delegation of Responsibilities

Learn to say NO at workplace. Dont do everything on your own. There are other people as well. One should not accept something which he knows is difficult for him. The roles and responsibilities must be delegated as per interest and specialization of employees for them to finish tasks within deadlines. A person who does not have knowledge about something needs more time than someone who knows the work well.
Prioritizing Tasks

Prioritize the tasks as per their importance and urgency. Know the difference between important and urgent work. Identify which tasks should be done within a day, which all should be done within a month and so on. Tasks which are most important should be done earlier.
Spending the right time on right activity

Develop the habit of doing the right thing at the right time. Work done at the wrong time is not of much use. Dont waste a complete day on something which can be done in an hour or so. Also keep some time separate for your personal calls or checking updates on Facebook or Twitter. After all human being is not a machine.

For Effective Time Management one needs to be: Organized - Avoid keeping stacks of file and heaps of paper at your workstation. Throw what all you dont need. Put important documents in folders. Keep the files in their respective drawers with labels on top of each file. It saves time which goes on unnecessary searching. Dont misuse time - Do not kill time by loitering or gossiping around. Concentrate on your work and finish assignments on time. Remember your organization is not paying you for playing games on computer or peeping into others cubicles. First complete your work and then do whatever you feel like doing. Dont wait till the last moment. Be Focussed - One needs to be focused for effective time management. Develop the habit of using planners, organizers, table top calendars for better time management. Set reminders on phones or your personal computers.

ime Management Tips for Students

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Time Management is nothing but managing time well and doing the right thing at the right time. It is essential for individuals to allocate specific time slots to tasks as per their importance and urgency. Time Management plays a pivotal role not only in organizations but also in an individuals personal life. Students aspiring for management courses or for that matter any professional course need to value time to reach the pinnacle of success and stay firmly entrenched at the top. Let us go through some Time Management tips for Students:

Set a goal for yourself. Know what you want to achieve in life. Take a pen and paper and write down where you want to see yourself five years from now. Setting an objective for yourself gives you a sense of direction. Organize your study space. Arrange books and study material properly at their respective places. Stationery items must not be scattered on the table. Plan your studies. Understand what all subjects are important and need to be done first. Go through your syllabus carefully. Find out the weightage of each subject and prepare a Task plan accordingly. Jot down what all subjects you think should be covered in a single day against specific time slots. Make sure you cover important topics first and then come to relatively easier ones. Beginning your day with something which is not that important is a sheer waste of time.

Tick off subjects you have already completed. Give yourself a pat on your back.Remember self motivation is one of the greatest tools for success. Avoid munching while studying . Prefer fruits, salads rather than calorie laden burgers, wafers, pizza etc. They make you feel sleepy and also add to your weight. Do a SWOT Analysis of yourself. There is no harm in writing your weaknesses. Understand in which all areas you need to work hard. Ignoring difficult subjects is of no use. You have to do them anyways.Assign extra time to critical subjects. Be logical. Remove all sources of distractions from your study zone. Prefer not to keep magazines, comics, novels, CDs, video games in your study room. Studying and watching television simultaneously is nothing but a waste of time. Do include some time for relaxation as well. No individual can study continuously at a stretch. One needs time to relax and unwind. Assign some time for revision as well. Revision is essential and it makes you perfect. Do not go for long calls during study time. One needs to set his /her priorities. Understand what is more important for you? Remember you will have ample time to catch up with all your friends once you clear your entrance exams and get into one of your dream business schools. Make sure your study space is well lit and ventilated. Dark corners make you feel sleepy and one finds it difficult to concentrate in studies and eventually wastes half of his/her time. It is essential to choose the right time for studies. MBA preparation is no joke and requires focus, concentration and planning. Prefer studying in the morning hours with less or no disturbance.

ime Management Skills

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The judicious use of time by an individual to succeed in all aspects of life refers to Time Management. Time Management not only helps individuals to make the best use of time but also ensures successful accomplishment of tasks within the stipulated time frame. It is essential to do the right thing at the right time to earn respect at work. People who do not value time fail to make a mark and are never taken seriously. Let us go through some skills necessary for effective Time Management:
1. Stay Organized

The workstation must be kept clean and organized. Keeping important files organized helps you retrieve them immediately and thus saves time which goes on unnecessary searching. Staple important documents together. Do not keep stacks of files and heaps of paper on your desk. Throw whatever you dont need. Keep stationery items and your personal belongings like cell phone, car keys, wallet at their proper places. Develop the habit of using an organizer. Plan your day well in advance. Never write on loose papers. Keep a notepad and pen handy.

3.

Learn to Prioritize

Set your priorities. Do not work just for the sake of working. Prepare a Task Plan or a To Do List the moment you settle down for work. Jot down all the activities you wish to do in a single day as per importance and urgency. High priority tasks must be attended to immediately. Do not start your day with something which does not require your immediate attention. Tick off completed tasks. It gives you a sense of relief and satisfaction. An employee must understand the difference between high and low priority tasks and also between important and urgent work. Do not indulge in irrelevant activities. You will waste your entire day and the output would be zero. Be clear about your roles and responsibilities at the workplace.

4.

Be Punctual and Disciplined

Being punctual helps you complete tasks way ahead of deadline. Avoid taking too many leaves from work. Such an attitude is completely unprofessional. Make sure you are there at your desk five minutes before your actual time. Strive hard to complete tasks on time. Do not keep assignments pending and wait for the last minute.

5.

Take Ownership of work

Do not work only when your boss is around. Work for yourself. The dedication has to come from within.

 6.

Be responsible for your work and learn to accept your mistakes. If you have accepted something, then it becomes your responsibility to complete it within the allotted time slot.

Be a little Diplomatic

Do not accept everything which comes your way. A polite NO in the beginning will save your reputation later. The employees must be delegated responsibilities as per their specialization and background. This way they take more interest and eventually finish work on time.

7.

More Focused

Be a little focused and concentrate on work. Do not waste time by loitering and gossiping around. Do not take long personal calls at work. Finish off work and leave for the day on time. You will have ample time to catch up with your friends or log on to social networking sites. Playing games while you are at work is something which is not expected out of a professional.

8.

Be reasonable

No individual can work for the whole day. Do include some time in your daily schedule to speak to your team member sitting next to you. Do not over burden yourself.

Benefits of Time Management

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Time Management refers to making the best possible use of available time. Managing time well enables an individual to do the right thing at the right time. Time Management plays a pivotal role in ones personal as well as professional life. Let us go through some benefits of Time Management:

Time Management makes an individual punctual and disciplined . One learns to work when it is actually required as a result of effective time management. To make the judicious use of time, individuals should prepare a TASK PLAN or a TO DO List at the start of the day to jot down activities which need to be done in a particular day as per their importance and urgency against the specific time slots assigned to each activity. A Task Plan gives individuals a sense of direction at the workplace. An individual knows how his day looks like and eventually

works accordingly leading to an increased output. One becomes more organized as a result of effective Time Management. Keeping the things at their proper places minimizes the time which goes on unnecessary searching of documents, important files, folders, stationery items and so on. For better time management, individuals keep their workstations, study zones, cubicles, meeting areas clean and organized. People learn to manage things well as a result of Time Management. Effective Time Management boosts an individuals morale and makes him confident. As a result of Time Management, individuals accomplish tasks within the stipulated time frame, making them popular in their organization as well as amongst their peers. People who understand the value of time are the ones who manage to stand apart from the crowd. Individuals who finish off work on time are looked up to by others and are always the centre of attention everywhere. Individuals who stick to a time plan are the ones who realize their goals and objectives within the shortest possible time span . Managing time effectively helps employees to meet targets way ahead of deadlines and finish off task just when it is required. Effective Time Management helps an employee to reach the pinnacle of success quickly and stay firm at the top for a longer duration. An employee who works just for the sake of working fails to create an impression and is never taken seriously at work. Effective time management plays a pivotal role in increasing an individuals productivity. Output increases substantially when people manage their time well. Better Time Management helps in better planning and eventually better forecasting. Individuals learn to plan things well and know where exactly they stand five years from now. Research says that individuals who accomplish tasks on time are less prone to stress and anxiety. Remember there is no point in wasting time and cribbing later. Finish off pending work on time and then you would have ample time for your friends, relatives and family members. Time Management enables an individual to prioritize tasks and activities at workplace. It is foolish to stay overburdened. Do not accept anything and everything that comes your way. Time Management helps an individual to adopt a planned approach in life.

Time Management Introduction Managing time in organisations is difficult because time flows at the same rate for everyone and cannot be 'managed' like other resources. When people talk about managing time, they really mean managing themselves and therefore choosing to use time in the most appropriate way. Our ability to use time well depends on the culture or unwritten rules of the organisation 'How we do things round here? The personal preferences and habits of the individuals or groups in the organisation are important. So are the skills and knowledge of those people of 'time management techniques', for example meeting management. The bulk of this note describes how these factors operate and suggests a way forward if you wish to make improvements. Poor time management is costly. The costs of poor time management Organisations that are poor time managers are in permanent crisis. The urgent drives out everything else and there is no time to think and set up procedures for handling predictable problems. This increases the crises as these problems arrive. Time is spent on doing and not on longer range work like thinking and coordinating. Systems grow and outlive their usefulness because everyone is too busy to ask why they need them. This causes much overlapping and wasted effort. It is often hard to get people to meet and even harder to be reflective and try to learn together. Quality and customer service fall because the system cannot handle long range problems. The benefits of effective time management The organisation concentrates on the important things. People work together in an open way and stop wasting each other's time. They examine everything and eliminate useless work. They set up helpful systems but review them regularly. People agree on the necessity of working as a team to avoid wasted effort. They tackle long term issues as they arise. More time is spent thinking, less on reacting. As a result, there is less stress and more effectiveness. The emphasis is on doing the right work appropriately. The effects of organisational culture on time management The culture of an organisation is an extremely powerful determinant of people's behaviour. We all respond to what others expect of us and then get accepted and feel good. Unfortunately, organisations rarely plan their cultures to fit their needs. Cultures always lag behind. This is particularly true in periods of rapid change such as the present.

You can imagine the culture to be a message played into the ears of the organisation's members all the time by some invisible tape recorder. Some typical ones are:-"Do everything well", "Don't take risks", "Don't rock the boat", "Do it yourself", "The customers time is always more important than anything else", "The system says.... and you must follow it", "Always do what the boss says without question", "Client contact is what it is all about" "We have all the time in the world, no need to rush" and "Only money making work is important". Although these injunctions make sense part of the time and have, indeed, been associated with the organisations' success, they are rigid. There will be circumstances when they are not helpful guides and lead to much wasted time and effort. Organisations need a flexible culture where people are aware of what they should do and respond appropriately. The effects of personal preferences and habits Managing time is about managing priorities. This is best done thoughtfully. If not, people often do the things they find satisfying, or which get them recognition, or are quick and easy. They particularly will do these things that are culturally 'correct'. None of these unconscious priority setting systems are necessarily rational and beneficial to the individual, group or organisation. These habits become frozen over time if you do not discuss how work is done. Such discussions can be very helpful indeed in a team. They help the team develop and pass on effective practices. Discussion is a potent way to change attitudes. Ten effective time management habits follow: When people bring problems use counselling skills and say "What do you think you should do?" Ask for what is wanted and time/effort to be expended when being given a task Give tasks with clear objectives and quality standards Ask people for a short time limited contribution at meetings while others just listen. Set time limits on casual meetings. Control time spent on the phone. Stop when you achieve your objective. Have a thought-out personal priority system. Find out the value of your output in your customers eyes, then focus your effort on the most valuable work. Give feedback to your suppliers so they provide what you want in the form you want it. Always ask yourself "What is the best use of my time right now?". Act on the answer.

What does your organisation score out of ten? No organisation is perfect but improvement is always possible if you discuss the way you use time in the organisation. Then it is a matter of taking, and holding to, individual decisions.

Time management techniques. Improved techniques can be valuable but as part of a general process of culture change and individual decision. People usually know what they need to do to be effective time (self) managers it is more difficult to do it. Some basic techniques can be helpful. Write down clear short term and long term goals. Work out your priority system and change it if required Make a daily "To Do" list and set priorities on items Precede any report with a brief summary, a statement of objectives and recommendations. Summarise regularly on the phone to keep calls short. Discuss how long jobs or meetings will require. Learn how to chair a meeting effectively.

Introduction:
What is Time Management?
Do you find yourself rushing through your morning, stampeding to the door, making your way through traffic only to arrive 10 minutes late for work because you had to wait for the train?

How does the rest of your day go? Once you get yourself into work do you need to take a few moments to compose yourself? Perhaps you get a coffee and relax by chatting with a co-worker on your way to your desk. When you sit down you see five items that need immediate attention (some left over from yesterday) and the phone starts ringing. You forgot the morning meeting! So you start rifling through your papers. Is this sounding all too familiar by now? Regardless of whether you work at home, an office or a factory or if you work for a boss or yourself, getting a grip on time seems like a daily struggle for millions of people.

Are You Overbooked?

Its true that many of us have heaped our daily schedule full of activities. Despite cell phones, internet and microwaves it seems we never have enough time to take care of business, ourselves, our friends and family. So many of the activities we do everyday are demanding our attention that it can be difficult to make plans for the future. Even if the plans will ease our burdens down the road. We are busy but are we productive with our time? This is where time management has become important.

What Will Time Management Do For Me?

Time management isnt a physics course, but it is worth making the effort to review and apply in your busy life. Why? Because time management isnt just about having time its about making certain our time is well spent. There will always be times in our life when we get extra busy (back to school, taxes, holidays, important projects) but learning the skills to manage the time we have wisely will alleviate much of the stress and frustration that can lead to burn out and fatigue.

Working Smarter Not Harder

Your time is a valuable resource both to your employer, business and family. When we treat every task we do as a priority it is easy to slip into bad habits that eat into our time but do not give us enough benefits. We run around putting out fires and face every days activities as emergencies. Nothing is planned and we never have time to get things done properly. Identifying these areas and restructuring your routine and mindset enables you to optimize your time so you produce the most results with the least effort. How does this work? By identifying daily routines and your own body rhythms you can try to plan the most energy consuming activities during your most productive times of the day and use your less productive times for activities that do not require the same amount of concentration or effort.

This applies equally well to all parts of our life work and home. But it goes beyond that. Time management also helps you identify time (or energy) wasters. Perhaps there are activities that must be removed or delegated to someone else. By learning how to identify these we will not succumb to guilty feelings that we were not "up to the job" but we will conscientiously decide that to keep doing them is a waste of valuable resources your time.

Time Management is a Skill

Youre not at boot camp. Although the discipline encouraged by boot camps may be useful it does not relate well to daily life. Work and family usually call for flexibility and learning the skill of time management will allow us to make wise choices without being tied to a strict routine. Would your boss be pleased if you turned down an important assignment presented to you with urgency by hearing you say "I have a strict schedule to follow and tomorrow is my filing day so I cannot accept another assignment at this time"? Or would your daughter, having forgotten to mention her soccer game until the night before, be satisfied with "we planned to do the laundry, remember? Its on the schedule." Developing time management skills with the help of this guide will show how to determine what tasks need doing and when in harmony with your overall goals at work and at home.

You Can Make Last Minute Decisions

That means when you have a last minute invitation out for a couples only supper on Friday night, but youve already booked up the weekend for family activities, you will determine if one more social activity will contribute to your happiness as a couple or drain you for the family activities you planned for the weekend. When your supervisor asks you to help out with some backed up invoicing, you can determine if giving a helpful hand to an important part of the business will improve your reputation as a team player or will cause other, equally important jobs that have already been assigned to you to become delayed or jeopardized. Making conscious decisions about why we use the time the way we do will prevent you from appearing incapable or feeling overwhelmed. You will

have the confidence to give your answers (even if its no) without questioning your judgment. If you do say no to a task you will be able to furnish an explanation as to why you are making that decision if need be. Or in the case of an employer or manager you can explain your situation and allow them to decide which task uses your time to the most profitable ends. You may find that they were unaware of your current load and are thankful that you are concerned about making the best use of your time and talents.

You Will Have a Purpose in What You Do

While time management is a skill that should be used day-to-day, it is also useful to help reach your long term goals. Your goals may be hazy right now, or even obscure, but by incorporating them into the why of what you do every day you will be making strides to accomplish them while enjoying what you do. Even the drudgery that sometimes comes with life is easier to manage if you know why you must do it. Knowing why will make these chores a part of your plan, and thus a choice rather than a burden. Managing your time can also prevent these areas from becoming dragged out and thus affecting your usefulness and energy.
Getting Started

The first step to getting your time managed is to find out exactly how much your time is worth

STRESS MANAGEMENT ABD. RAZAK SAID M.Sc. (HRD UPM) B.Sc. (WORKFORCE, EDU. & DEV. SIUC USA) Dip in Stenography (ITM) WHAT IS STRESS? Stress is an adaptive response to a situation that we perceive as challenging or threatening.

 Overwork, violence at workplace, sexual harassment, workplace bullying produce Distress INTERPERSONAL STRESSORS Examples of interpersonal stressors are: Workplace bullying, Sexual harassment, and Workplace violence. ROLE RELATED STRESSORS Role related stressors include situations where employees have difficulty understanding and performing various roles in their lives such as: Role conflict Role ambiguity Work overload TASK CONTROL STRESSORS Task control stressors refer to a situation where an employee has no control over his work due to environmental (uncontrollable) factors such as: Time, Quantity and quality Environmental factors ORGANIZATIONAL AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT STRESSORS Examples of these stressors are downsizing, merging, restructuring, reengineering, excessive noise, poor lighting, and poor safety hazards. WORK TO NON-WORK STRESSORS Three types of non-work stressors are: 1. Time-based conflict the challenge of balancing the time demanded by work with family and other non-work activities. 2. Strain-based conflict occurs when stress from one condition spills over to the other WORK TO NON-WORK STRESSORS (CONT.) Role behavior conflict occurs when people are expected to enact (perform) different work and non-work roles. CONSEQUENCES OF DISTRESS

 Physiological consequences chronic stress may lead to cardiovascular disease, strokes, heart attacks, hypertension (whenever people are stressed, their blood pressure goes up and down). Psychological consequences chronic stress may also lead to job dissatisfaction, moodiness, and depression. BEHAVIORAL CONSEQUENCES Distressed employees may lead to workplace accidents, decrease performance, and high levels of absenteeism. Workplace aggression refers to a situation whereby employees engage in verbal conflict. Aggression represents the fight (instead of flight) HOW TO AVOID BEING DISTRESSED Always think positive Smile Performing solah and reading the Quran as Allah has said in the Quran: Truly, in remembering God do hearts find rest (Quran, 13:28) On the other hand, the one who turns away from the Quran will have a life of hardship in this world. HOW TO AVOID BEING DISTRESSED Allah has said: But whoever turns away from the Quran he will have a difficult life, and We will raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment. (Quran, 20:124) A lot of zikir MANAGING STRESS 1. Withdraw the stressor Temporary withdrawal Go to a restroom, take a vacation, etc. Permanent withdrawal Change to a new job/transfer to a new place. 2. Receive social support from family, friends, and others. 3. Control the consequences of stress through fitness programs and wellness programs. THATS ALL WASSALAM.