Book Excerpt – Time-Tastic!

One of the concerns we hear most often from volunteer managers is – “I just don’t have the time!” … for exploring new technologies, developing positions for highly-skilled volunteers, professional development, and the list goes on. If you feel this way, Time-tastic! Time Management for Nonprofit Leaders might be able to help.

As author Karen Eber Davis states in the introduction:

Today’s market offers an array of time management advice…Why add another time management book? Well, time management is different in the nonprofit world for a number of reasons, including high expectations for relationships, stewardship issues, and the general scarcity of resources. Not only is time management different, it is more critical and often requires more skills.

We’re excerpting three of our favorite tips here for blog readers.  To learn more about the book and get more time management advice for nonprofit leaders, visit www.kedconsult.com

Exercise No
Save time by saying “no” to tasks before they reach your list. State: “I would love to help, but my calendar won’t allow.” If you say “no” to a one-hour task you are reluctant to undertake, one time per month, you save a day and a half per year. Most people save more by declining opportunities of low interest. Most requests require more than one hour.

Establish Time Limits
Establish time limits for projects upfront. For most organizations, if a grant will bring in $2,000, it is worth ten hours of time (i.e., you earn $200 per hour). However, the same grant is not worth 80 hours. Projects, especially income-related ones, need to garner a proportionate amount of income relative to your time investment. This is a key challenge with special events.

Test Motivation
Do not try to solve a motivation challenge by teaching someone more skills and vice versa. Is it skill or motivation challenge? The test: would they do the job if it paid one million dollars? If yes, and the job is not done, you have a motivation problem. If one million dollars would not motivate them, you have a skills challenge. Motivation will never help them rise to the occasion. Teach the skill and adjust motivation, as appropriate.

Excerpted with permission from Karen Eber Davis’ Time Management for Nonprofit Leaders. Want more tips? Visit www.kedconsult.com