Chapter 4: Time Management Skills

Everyone has 24 hours each day and 168 hours each week to eat, sleep, work, relax and exercise. Time management, however, does require a merchandiser to have self-discipline and control over the time they spend working in the merchandising field.

The difference between success and failure is not in the amount of time we have but in our utilization of the time available to achieve our results.

Good time management skills allow you, as a merchandiser, to be more productive. In order for a time management process to work, it is important to know what aspects of your job need to be improved. Here are some of the reasons that merchandisers aren’t as productive as they can be:

• Phone interruptions
• Acting with incomplete information
• Dealing with team members
• Crisis management (putting out fires)
• Unclear communication about the project
• Inadequate training to do the job

Phone interruptions: telephones can be our biggest asset during the work day yet it can also be the biggest cause of not finishing the project on time. Know your company’s policy on cell phone use during work hours.

Make sure that you have all the information necessary at the start of each project. This will cut down on mistakes and will enable merchandisers to complete the project correctly and on time.

If you are asked to work on a project and you do not have the necessary skill level to complete the project correctly, make sure you communicate that to your supervisor before starting the job. It is your responsibility to make sure that you only take projects that you are qualified for.

Time Management Activities and Skills:
Here are some of the most important time management activities and skills that your company looks for in professional merchandisers:

• Prioritizing Skills — the most important time management skill, it enables merchandisers to handle multiple projects at the same time. Without solid prioritizing skills, you won’t have time for what is most important on the project.
• "Be Prepared" — the more clear your priorities are each day, the more prepared you are for unpredictable situations that can occur in merchandising on a daily basis.
• Concentrate on your strengths — it is important to know your strengths and weaknesses so that you can be assigned to projects that suit your skill level.
• "To Do" Lists — are extremely important for efficient work. Using "To Do Lists" allows you to remember to carry out all necessary tasks and enables you to complete the most important jobs first.

In order to use your time appropriately, you should always ask the following questions before each project:

• What is the purpose of the job and how will success be measured?
• What is "exceptional performance?" How will a client determine that the merchandiser has "gone above and beyond?"
• What are the priorities and deadlines? Merchandisers should be aware of set time limitations.
• What resources are available to each merchandiser if he/she runs into a problem?

If you get answers to these questions before starting each project, you will know how to do your job the right way!

When you have completed this chapter, click here to begin Chapter 5; Merchandising Team Skills.