Business executives are faced with an armload of tasks everyday. Part of their key responsibilities is being able to manage the tasks assigned to them effectively and efficiently so as to maximize productivity among themselves as well as their subordinates.
If you are an executive, you need to learn and understand what task management is all about, and how you can use this to perform well in every task given to you. Let us start by getting a clear overview of task management, along with the benefits you can get from using it, as well as the skills that are needed by every task manager.
What is Task Management?
Task management is defined as the process of handling every aspect of a given task or series of tasks in order to achieve the goals set by you, your superiors, or the company you work for. This involves various processes such as planning, testing, documentation, and reporting. The entire process would vary in complexity, from easy to difficult, although its foundation remains the same, keeping focus on time, priorities, people, and costs.
Advantages of Task Management
When you utilize task management in every endeavor, you will be able to benefit from the following:
1. Increased productivity in the organization because every individual will make use of systems created primarily to promote efficiency. When everyone is being productive, unnecessary expenses will be avoided. As a result, the company will be able to save on costs.
2. Multi-tasking is made possible without compromising quality. Task management allows any team or department to do several things at the same time because the tools being used are also equipped with automated functions.
3. Everyone will be aligned in terms of knowing what needs to be done to achieve a common goal in every task, as well as the overall goals of the company. Because task management involves documentation and reporting, you can get up-to-date information on what is going on with the rest of the team or organization, and which tasks are left unfinished.
These are just some of the most common advantages of using task management.
Skills Required of a Task Manager
To become an effectual task manager, there are skills that an executive must possess. The good news is that if you do not have these skills yet, you can still work to develop these.
• Good communication skills. An important aspect of a task manager’s job is to be able to manage his team as well as coordinate with other individuals from different groups or departments effectively. He should be able to relay information and instructions to his subordinates clearly because if he is unable to do this well then it will affect the outcome of every task.
• Execution skills. Not only does a task manager need to be a good communicator, he should also have the ability to get the job done. Execution is very important, especially when faced with pressures, deadlines, and difficult situations. A person with execution skills should be able to get things done even in tough times. He knows how to assign workloads proficiently, keen on which tasks to assign each individual or group based on their abilities and potential. Moreover, he should have the skills needed to ensure quality results.
• Time management. Prioritizing is part of the general makeup of task management therefore it is necessary for one to know how to manage time well. He should be able to discern which tasks need to be put first, second, third, and so on, and know which things should be taken out of the list.
• People skills. The core of any task is the people behind it. If you have people skills, you can motivate your people to be at their best and do their best in their job. To have people skills, you must be a good listener and an empathetic manager.
On the overall, task management is rendered important in the job of every executive because it helps you and your company in achieving the goals you have set. Without task management, you can still go about your assignments and responsibilities however your chances of success is always higher when you utilize the principles, aspects, and guidelines involved in task management.
