Status reports

How much time do you write every week? Remember that you have 37.5 hours (I know!) For Technical Writing every week, but how much is actually paid to write? When I write, 'I actually develop my content, so that also images, graphics, advertising, etc. - everything that is available in the final.

Christine, my former boss, had a record of all the information they have during the week. Here is a breakdown of how much time was spent actually writing.

  • Technical writing - 15 hours (includes all written information, such as the release notes, the development of video, convert content from Word to PDF / HTML / FrameMaker and screen-capture work)
  • E-mail - 12 hours (including correspondence, computer programmers, employees, sales, customers, MGT)
  • Project Management - 6 hours (with progress reports, scheduling and distribution of documents include feedback, etc.)
  • Timesheet - 45 min. (including changes that are made so that we properly account for the customer and appropriations to the right "buckets needs")
  • Internal meetings - 6 hours (Mon-Fri, office meetings, tech publishing meeting on Thursday, and meetings with HR (scores) and project coordination meetings with finance)
  • Relationships - 4-10 hours (this includes conference calls, status reports, emergency, monthly call conf global depts and transfer projects. Mostly status updates)
  • Travel - 6 hours (ie the customer or to the city to) our HQ
Total - 43-49 hours (50 + if you add on travel)

It surprises you?

Less than 15 hours (30%) were issued documentation. The rest is absorbed by e-mail and meetings. While there are ways to reduce the time for this to be used, are other areas that are beyond their control.

5 assign tasks

Have to:

  • Customer
  • Send status reports
  • Accept telephone conferences
  • Deliver updates
  • Create documentation
There is no room.

7 ways to save time at work

But we found some ways to create time.

  • She participated in group meetings, but after they leave her presentation.
  • She stopped attending meetings where their input was not needed as the general progress reports. She asked about the reports of PMS, acceptance / rejection of their data and went back to work.
  • She worked from home every Tuesday) (and later every Wednesday. This can work - without interruption - in 10 hours.
  • They have booked a room - just for himself - went in and worked in peace. When she worked at the reception, held the people to stop.
  • She ignored all emails - with the exception of high priority - in 24 hours. Why? Many small things completely dissolved. She found the document. People do not need anything more.
  • She ignored a low priority for 72 hours. Why? Many e-mails were only the total time-waster. Expenditure during that time deprived her of the time in other areas.
  • She turned from her BlackBerry, instant messaging and e-mail at work. They went through it on the dot clock by 11 and 3. Between the time she was "working".
What Christine did was to prioritize their work. Provided that they learned their services - or surpassed, as is the case - their heads were in order. Employees had their expectations, that is changing. it was not for nonsense, "How do I move a pig in Farmville? or an activity that takes her away from her goal.

What is different here that it has a specific objective. Their goal was to increase productivity and get recognition. Many people are working, but the donkey does not get recognition.

By using their time well, she was a senior mgt that it is a cut above the rest when I leave the project, the team they lead.

How about you?

How much time do you do what you want? How to prevent others from wasting your time and do not pull on your goals?

PS - I updated my profile on LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/in/ivanwalsh). I recommend this site if you want to have contact with other tech writers.