March 2, 2007
Law Firm Managing Partners Need a C Drawer
Every managing partner needs a “C” drawer. What is it?
It turns out the old advice about time management just doesn’t work in our fast-paced world. You know what I mean…the A—B—C prioritizing system. Try doing the “A” list first, the “B” list second, and then the “C”s, and you never get back to all the new “A” items or you spend most of your time majoring in minors working on “B” and “C” issues.
Time management is more about what you spend your time on and less about the order in which you spend it. So as you go through all those items that make their way to your desk, put the Cs in your C drawer. Most will take care of themselves. If not, you can deal with them when they return as “A” items later. Of course, there is always that problem when your “C” is someone else’s “A”, but that is the way the world turns.
As for “B” items, go back through them and decide if they are really “A” or “C” issues. There is no place in this world of “not enough time” for “B”s.
Here are a few other time management concepts I rely on:
M&Ms: Remember to do the main things your success depends on and do each with the minimum resources required to achieve the objective (minimum doesn’t mean inadequate).
Majoring in minors: We all prefer instant gratification. It is easy to fall into the habit of shuffling paper–doing those things that can be done quickly. Don’t major in minors.
Count the teeth: It is a long story, but the essence is, don’t waste your time and the time of others speculating on the determinable. If you want to know how many teeth are in a horse’s mouth go count them.
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Filed under Firm Culture by Tom Collins
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