--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 1.5 Make time to manage People used to…" description: "\"“1.5 Make time to manage People used to worry about keeping their desk tidy. Now it’s also about keeping the computer desktop tidy. Then there are the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/michael-heath-178595_computers_1-5-make-time-to-manage-people-used-to-w_1695017.jpg" --- # 1.5 Make time to manage People used to worry about keeping… ![“1.5 Make time to manage People used to worry about keeping their desk tidy. Now it’s also about keeping the computer desktop tidy. Then there are the interruptions, the telephone, the meetings…Follow these nine tips to get rid of the time robbers in your life. 1 Be clear about what you want to…” quote by Michael Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/michael-heath-178595_computers_1-5-make-time-to-manage-people-used-to-w_1695017.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/michael-heath-178595_computers_1-5-make-time-to-manage-people-used-to-w_1695017.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/michael-heath-178595_computers_1-5-make-time-to-manage-people-used-to-w_1695017.jpg) > ““1.5 Make time to manage People used to worry about keeping their desk tidy. Now it’s also about keeping the computer desktop tidy. Then there are the interruptions, the telephone, the meetings…Follow these nine tips to get rid of the time robbers in your life. 1 Be clear about what you want to achieve. Do the one minute wonder exercise opposite. 2 Plan your work. Write down your goals and break each goal down into sub-tasks. Give start and finish dates to each task. 3 Book appointments with your work. If a report is going to take two hours, then make an appointment with that report as if it were a real person. 4 Deal with tasks as soon as you can. If it’s an unpleasant task then do it first thing. 5 Be ruthless with time – but courteous with people. But don’t over-socialize either face to face or on the phone. Remember you’re eating into other people’s time as well! one minute wonder Write down your job purpose. Then write the five activities that help you achieve this job purpose. Rate each activity 1-5 according to how happy you are with the time you spend on each (1=low, 5=high). Now get those low – rated activities into your diary! 6 Deal with your email three times a day. First thing in the morning, mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Turn off the pop-up that tells you when an email has just come through. 7 Deal with interruptions. Ask the interrupter if it’s quick or if it can wait until later. If interrupted at your desk, then stand up to keep the other person focused. 8 Deal with your in-tray once a day. Take each item and: deal with it; delegate it; file it or dump it. 9 Plan your telephone calls. Save them up and do them in a block so they’ll be quicker and more focused. The worst feeling as a manager is when we think that the workload is too much for us. These nine tips make sure that you stay in control and go home each evening feeling on top of your workload. Being a great time manager leaves you with more time for your people.”” [Michael Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective time management requires clear goals, planning, and disciplined handling of interruptions. **In simple terms:** Manage time by planning and limiting distractions. Key Takeaway Prioritize tasks and protect your schedule. Themes productivity management focus Mood motivational practical Type advice null When to use this quote - workday planning - email management - meeting efficiency Key Concepts goal setting task batching interrupt handling Questions to Reflect On - Which time‑robber costs you most? - How can you balance courtesy with efficiency? A Different Perspective People may resist strict time controls. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Desk Tidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desk-tidy-1092925/) [Face to face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-to-face/) [Make Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-time/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Phone calls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-calls/) [Real person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-person/) [Rid Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rid-time-1092924/) [Telephone Calls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telephone-calls/) [Three times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-times/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Manage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-manage-1092923/) [Time Manager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-manager-514562/) [Worst feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-feeling/) ## Related quotes > [It was the only thing I had to do. I worked to get rid of the time, even now I work for something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-s-lowry/it-was-the-only-thing-i-had-to-do-i-worked-to-get-rid-of-the-time/) [L. S. Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-s-lowry/) > [I'm quite an untidy person in a lot of ways. But order makes me happy. I have to have a clear desk and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/i-m-quite-an-untidy-person-in-a-lot-of-ways-but-order-makes-me-happy/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [I eat and drink at my desk, but I'm a tidy eater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-zawinski/i-eat-and-drink-at-my-desk-but-i-m-a-tidy-eater/) [Jamie Zawinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-zawinski/) > [I would say I am one of those guys who teams are looking for a reason to get rid of most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/i-would-say-i-am-one-of-those-guys-who-teams-are-looking-for-a-reason/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [You can't manage time, you actually only manage what you do during time. So the management issue is not so much about time, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/you-can-t-manage-time-you-actually-only-manage-what-you-do-during/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“If you really want to be an effective time manager, you will have to learn to say no to other people and do so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/if-you-really-want-to-be-an-effective-time-manager-you-will-have-to/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/until-we-can-manage-time-we-can-manage-nothing-else/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't be a time manager, be a priority manager. Cut your major goals into bite-sized pieces. Each small priority or requirement on the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/don-t-be-a-time-manager-be-a-priority-manager-cut-your-major-goals/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Don't be a time manager, be a priority manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/don-t-be-a-time-manager-be-a-priority-manager/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Your time as a manager is finite and valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-yglesias/your-time-as-a-manager-is-finite-and-valuable/) [Matthew Yglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-yglesias/) > [The challenge is not to manage time, but to manage ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-challenge-is-not-to-manage-time-but-to-manage-ourselves/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The minute I had him, my son, I realized that I had to just time-manage in a way that I never had to before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domino-kirke/the-minute-i-had-him-my-son-i-realized-that-i-had-to-just-time-manage/) [Domino Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domino-kirke/) > [It is very important that you can express yourself, especially at half-time in a changing room, which is the crucial time for a manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/it-is-very-important-that-you-can-express-yourself-especially-at-half/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [“Until we manage time, we manage nothing.” – Peter F Drucker Don’t”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chandan-deshmukh/until-we-manage-time-we-manage-nothing-peter-f-drucker-don-t/) [CHANDAN DESHMUKH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chandan-deshmukh/) > [No App or article can help you MANAGE your time adequately. To become a good time manager, YOUR need to understand the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-sebastiao/no-app-or-article-can-help-you-manage-your-time-adequately-to-become/) [Emanuel Sebastiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-sebastiao/) ## More Computers quotes > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“Probably it goes without saying, but time machine guys don't get a lot of action. Had a one night stand with something cute a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/probably-it-goes-without-saying-but-time-machine-guys-don-t-get-a-lot/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Note found in the patron suggestion box: "You have SIGNS up near the computers that say BE QUIET, but people don't be quiet. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-sheridan/note-found-in-the-patron-suggestion-box-you-have-signs-up-near-the/) [Gina Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-sheridan/) > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) > [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/) [Jen-Hsun Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-hsun-huang/) > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) [William Henry Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-pickering/) > [“Alan Turing proposed the Turing Test: a computer is intelligent if you can't tell it from a human when you talk with it. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cjs-hayward/alan-turing-proposed-the-turing-test-a-computer-is-intelligent-if-you/) [CJS Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cjs-hayward/) > [Computers can be taught that certain tune or certain chords changes will sound pleasant together, but I don't think it's going to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/computers-can-be-taught-that-certain-tune-or-certain-chords-changes/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [“According to this model, human beings are, at least in one aspect, sensation-receiving machines; and although our receptory apparatus is competent to select and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cruce-stark/according-to-this-model-human-beings-are-at-least-in-one-aspect/) [Cruce Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cruce-stark/) > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) [Browse all 9,389 Computers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“1.5 Make time to manage People used to worry about keeping their desk tidy. Now it’s also about keeping the computer desktop tidy. Then there are the interruptions, the telephone, the meetings…Follow these nine tips to get rid of the time robbers in your life. 1 Be clear about what you want to achieve. Do the one minute wonder exercise opposite. 2 Plan your work. Write down your goals and break each goal down into sub-tasks. Give start and finish dates to each task. 3 Book appointments with your work. If a report is going to take two hours, then make an appointment with that report as if it were a real person. 4 Deal with tasks as soon as you can. If it’s an unpleasant task then do it first thing. 5 Be ruthless with time – but courteous with people. But don’t over-socialize either face to face or on the phone. Remember you’re eating into other people’s time as well! one minute wonder Write down your job purpose. Then write the five activities that help you achieve this job purpose. Rate each activity 1-5 according to how happy you are with the time you spend on each (1=low, 5=high). Now get those low – rated activities into your diary! 6 Deal with your email three times a day. First thing in the morning, mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Turn off the pop-up that tells you when an email has just come through. 7 Deal with interruptions. Ask the interrupter if it’s quick or if it can wait until later. If interrupted at your desk, then stand up to keep the other person focused. 8 Deal with your in-tray once a day. Take each item and: deal with it; delegate it; file it or dump it. 9 Plan your telephone calls. Save them up and do them in a block so they’ll be quicker and more focused. The worst feeling as a manager is when we think that the workload is too much for us. These nine tips make sure that you stay in control and go home each evening feeling on top of your workload. 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