TopLawyerCoach.com

See how well you manage your time by responding to these statements and scoring yourself.

Scoring:

1 = Never
2 = Occasionally
3 = Frequently
4 = Always

The number one challenge my clients face is TIME. There's just not enough of it!

As a lawyer coach, I give our clients this self-assessment, and then we design an Action Plan that holds them accountable for beating procrastination and using their time effectively.

1) I decide how many times I can be interrupted in a day. 1 2 3 4
2) I reserve certain hours for visits from colleagues. 1 2 3 4
3) I limit the duration of my calls. 1 2 3 4
4) I allow a colleague or secretary to screen my telephone calls. 1 2 3 4
5) I am able to complete tasks without interruptions from colleagues. 1 2 3 4
6) I close my office door when I want to think strategically. 1 2 3 4
7) I tell telephone callers I will return their calls, and I do each day in "clusters" of calls. 1 2 3 4
8) I delegate tasks to colleagues that I could do myself. 1 2 3 4
9) I arrive on time and prepare for meetings. 1 2 3 4
10) I achieve the right balance between thinking time and action time. 1 2 3 4

Score:

• 10-15 You are time-challenged! Reduce the time you spend in unproductive ways.
• 16-29 Your time management skills are reasonable, but could use improvement.
• 30-40 You are a time master! Keep looking for ways to streamline work practices.

Adapted from: Tim Handle,  Manage Your Time