Course Methodology

The course uses self-assessments and a wide mix of business cases that promote healthy discussions around the importance of managing multiple tasks, deadlines and priorities. Participants will benefit from role plays covering workplace challenges related to handling tasks, deadlines and priorities. They will learn how to deal with conflicts that may arise as a result. Interactive team exercises are also used with each team presenting their findings and comments.  

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the link between strategic planning and task accomplishment
• Describe task objectives, constraints and stakeholders 
• Set task priorities and deadlines
• Improve task outcomes when working in groups and teams
• Communicate, justify and persuade others when it comes to changes to task assignments

Target Audience

This course targets professionals, from all industries, who want to acquire essential skills to create and develop an effective and efficient workplace environment. It is designed for team leaders, supervisors, managers and section heads who are interested in improving their personal productivity or that of the people they manage or work with, whether on a project or within a department. The course also serves as a solid foundation for those who are keen on assuming a supervisory or managerial role as the next step in their career. 

Target Competencies

• Self management
• Goal setting
• Scheduling
• Task management
• Conflict management
• Communication
• Motivation
• Dealing with change 

Introduction to tasks in a business environment

• Role of self-management in managing tasks
• Overview of task management
• The task PTTR lifecycle 
• Task management principles
• Task management and the business environment
• Organizational perspective on work accomplishment
• Building value mindset in every task
• Impact of company strategy on task management
• Role of organizational structures in getting tasks done

Importance of planning in task management

• Managerial functions and tasks
• Task management skills
• Dealing with task constraints
• Goals, objectives and tasks
• From SMART objectives to SMART tasks
• Scopes of work and task assignments
• Identifying and managing task stakeholders
• Task related risks

Setting task priorities and deadlines 

• How we deal with tasks - an assessment
• Task management and work
• Planning, scheduling and meeting deadlines
• Task management and the development of priorities
• Managing meetings, e-mails, and interruptions
• ‘To do’ lists and managing priorities
• Time wasters, procrastination and immediate demands
• Tasks and automation
• Task management and stress​

Tasks and shared responsibilities

• Skills needed when assistance is needed
• The four rights of delegation
• Working effectively with others
• Interpersonal skills and task accomplishment
• Personal work styles and task accomplishment
• Flexibility and versatility
• Improving task productivity

Changing tasks effectively

• Improving task learning and understanding
• Communicating changes to task assignments
• Employee reactions to changes in task assignments
• The importance of engagement and ownership
• Overcoming natural resistance to changing tasks
• Managing changes to tasks effectively
• Personal plans and self-management