Self-management is the ability of a professional, whether an employee or an entrepreneur, to have full control over their work routine, while taking responsibility for delivering high-quality results on time, always considering the production chain — that is, being aware of the impact their work has on the workflow of others involved in the production process.
It refers to autonomy and freedom to act. In companies that encourage self-management, the presence of a boss is almost invisible. The employee becomes, in a sense, a “leader” of their own tasks, always following pre-established guidelines on how the work should be carried out and how hierarchical relationships should function.
Ten Ways to Adopt Self-Management (Beyond Being Organized)
- Maintain a task control routine: self-management will not work if you don’t know exactly what needs to be done each day;
- Establish your own work processes: take advantage of autonomy and create your own methodology (document it!) — where to start, how to execute, where to work, and when to do what;
- Develop better time management skills: one of the most important elements of adopting self-management, which shows if you truly know how to self-manage, including the ability to anticipate task delivery;
- Be able to set priorities: when everything seems urgent or “for yesterday,” there is a high risk of delivering low-quality work;
- Set clear goals: be realistic when defining goals in self-management throughout the process to avoid disappointing your own expectations;
- Learn to say no when necessary: as “essentialism” suggests, knowing when to say no is fundamental in various situations and is part of self-management, since you have full control over your tasks, priorities, and time;
- Always have an action plan: write down your action plan for implementing self-management in your daily routine, including your needs for the new routine (better internet, a more comfortable chair, etc.);
- Be proactive: self-management and proactivity go hand in hand; your routine cannot be passive, waiting for tasks to come to you or appear in your inbox. Often, it is the professional who creates new tasks;
- Create a routine for evaluating your work: another essential element of self-management is self-assessment of your routine and deliverables, allowing you to make adjustments and improve processes (even your work schedule can be changed if necessary);
Observe the routines and needs of colleagues and clients: those who practice self-management are not islands, and must maintain frequent communication with others involved to understand responsibilities and the impact of their work.
Source: RD Station
