Consultants and the Importance of Time Management

There are many wonderful things about leaving the security of a nine-to-five job and striking out on your own, including increased earning potential and the ability to finally take charge of your own future. Being your own boss has long been one of the great American dreams, and there is much to love out the world of freelance consulting. Many consultants report that they are pleased with their current situation, and that they would never dream of going back to being a regular employee.

Of course being a consultant has a number of challenges and difficulties to go along with all these benefits, and it is important for consultants to have a number of soft skills in addition to their technical expertise. One of the most critical of these soft skills is that of time management, and a lack of time management skills can do a great deal to hold otherwise talented consultants back from achieving their full potential.

There are a number of tactics consultants and others can use to more effectively manage their time. From elaborate time management software to time management training programs. One of the most effective, however, can also be one of the most effective, and that is the "to do" list. Creating a simple "to do" list, written on a piece of paper and taped to your computer screen, can do a great deal to keep you and your day on track.

For those who simply must have a high tech solution to every problem, there are "to do" lists built into a number of popular calendar and email programs, including the popular Microsoft Outlook. No matter how it is created, however, a simple "to do" list can be a great time management tool.

As that "to do" list is being created, take the time to place an estimate of how long each task will take to complete, then add at least 20% to that estimate to come up with a more realistic figure. That is because emails, phone calls, instant messages and other interruptions can really eat into our time. If the sum of all those tasks adds up to more than six hours, chances are you will not be able to get it all done in a single day. Unless you are dedicated to staying at the office every night, it may be a good idea to adjust your workload and take a good look at what you are promising your clients.

Many consultants will fall into the trap of over-promising their most important clients and end up behind the eight ball as a result. It is better to perform a thorough analysis up front of how much time the promised project will take and to adjust the promises made accordingly. Most clients would rather have you promise less and deliver more than the other way around.

It is also important for consultants to be able to maintain a focus, and if that means separating yourself from all distractions until you can catch up so be it. A day without the phone, email and other interruptions may be just what you need to focus and get that long delayed project done.

Consultants should also be wary of multitasking, and use it only on a limited basis. While some of us have the natural ability to do ten things at once, that is the exception and not the rule. More often than not multitasking simply leads to doing many things badly. It may be better to focus on doing one thing at a time and doing it to the best of your ability. Multitasking certainly has its place in today's 24/7 world, but it is best to use it sparingly.

And last but not least it is important for consultants to simply learn to say no when they are overwhelmed with work. Consultants often face the feast or famine problem, with either too much work or none at all. It can be tempting, therefore, for consultants, especially those just starting out and establishing a reputation, to take all the work they can find. While this can be a good strategy, stretching yourself too thin is always a mistake. If you feel that you will not be able to deliver the final project on time and within budget, it may be best to turn down the job and focus on getting more work when things slow down.

It is also a good idea for consultants not to neglect the importance of relevant training and certifications. It can be all too tempting for new consultants to spend every making moment in search of new clients, to the detriment of their professional development. This approach can be counterproductive, as clients will be continually demanding the most up to date skills from those they hire.

One of the best ways for consultants to get the training and certification they need without sacrificing too much time or money is to look atcomputer based training, such as that offered by CBT Planet. CBT Planet offers courses and certification training for Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco, Oracle, Red Hat, IBM, Sun and a number of other vendors, as well as training in a Microsoft Office and other popular desktop applications. Contact CBT Planet today and let us help your consulting business soar.