Last updated on Jun 28, 2024

Here's how you can enhance your skill in estimating task completion time and meeting deadlines.

Managing your time effectively is crucial, especially when it comes to estimating how long tasks will take and meeting deadlines. Enhancing this skill not only improves your productivity but also reduces stress and increases your credibility in the workplace. Whether you're juggling multiple projects or focusing on a single task, understanding how to accurately predict completion times is an essential component of career management.

1 Break it Down

When faced with a large task, breaking it down into smaller, manageable components can significantly improve your ability to estimate completion time accurately. By dissecting the project into sections, you can allocate time more effectively to each part, considering potential obstacles and dependencies. This approach not only makes the task less daunting but also allows for more precise time predictions, helping you stay on track and meet deadlines with greater ease.

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Érika Pinheiro

Soluções em RH e DHO com foco em Recrutamento, Treinamento e DEI | Cultura Organizacional | Gestão de Talentos | Mentora de Empregabilidade & Carreira | Palestrante | Colunista na Rádio ES | Host do PODBench
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Quando se olha o macro, nossa mente tende a não registrar o resultado esperado tnto quanto enxergar em blocos. Por isso, é extremamente importante dividir o projeto por metas e pequenas ações para alcançar aquela meta. Quando destrincha o projeto, fica muito mais visívile tangível mensurar gaps, ações e resultados.

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Cherry Lyu

Sensor Manufactuer #temperature control&protection solutions #temperature sensor #Thermocouple
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To enhance your skill in estimating task completion time and meeting deadlines: 1. Break Down Tasks Divide larger projects into smaller tasks for easier time estimation. 2. Track Your Time Use time-tracking tools to monitor and analyze how long tasks take. 3. Use Historical Data Refer to past projects for baseline estimates. 4. Add Buffers Include extra time to account for unforeseen delays. 5. Set Priorities Focus on high-priority tasks first to ensure timely completion. 6. Communicate Clearly communicate timelines and update as needed. 7. Review Progress Regularly check and adjust your progress against estimates. By applying these strategies, you can improve your time estimation and consistently meet deadlines.

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2 Past Reflection

Reflecting on how you've handled similar tasks in the past is a valuable strategy for enhancing your time estimation skills. Take note of the actual time it took versus the time you initially thought it would take. Identifying patterns in where you over or underestimate will help you adjust your predictions for future tasks. This self-awareness is key in learning from past experiences and refining your ability to meet deadlines consistently.

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Érika Pinheiro

Soluções em RH e DHO com foco em Recrutamento, Treinamento e DEI | Cultura Organizacional | Gestão de Talentos | Mentora de Empregabilidade & Carreira | Palestrante | Colunista na Rádio ES | Host do PODBench
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Eu falo muito sobre autoconhecimento, porque acredito que ele seja a chave da conquista de qualquer objetivo, pois ele está extremamente ligado à mentalidade. Por isso, avaliar seu processo e identificar desafios que outrora já foram vivenciados e vencidos, torna o seu processo atual muito mais leve, pois você já sabe o que fazer. O que te faz um profissional mais maduro e experiente é a sua vivência e maturidade para olhar para os novos desafios.

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3 Time Buffers

Incorporating time buffers into your estimates can be a game-changer for meeting deadlines. Unexpected issues often arise, so by planning for these contingencies, you give yourself a cushion to absorb delays without compromising the final deadline. This doesn't mean padding your estimates excessively, but rather being realistic about uncertainties that could affect your progress.

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4 Prioritize Tasks

Prioritizing tasks based on their urgency and importance helps in managing time more effectively. By understanding which tasks require immediate attention and which can be scheduled for later, you can allocate your time in a way that ensures critical deadlines are met first. This strategic approach prevents last-minute rushes and enhances your reputation for reliability.

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Érika Pinheiro

Soluções em RH e DHO com foco em Recrutamento, Treinamento e DEI | Cultura Organizacional | Gestão de Talentos | Mentora de Empregabilidade & Carreira | Palestrante | Colunista na Rádio ES | Host do PODBench
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Uma forma simples de identificar a prioridade de tarefas, é a Matriz de Eisenhower. Separe as tarefas por: - Importante e urgente - As que estiverem nessa quadrante, faça imediatamente. - importante, mas não urgente - Veja se pode ser delegado, ou organize-as para realizá-las assim que possível. - urgente, mas não importante - delegue - não é urgente e nem importante - elimine, ou faça quando puder.

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5 Use Tools

Leveraging time management tools can greatly enhance your ability to estimate task completion times and meet deadlines. From simple to-do lists to sophisticated project management software, these tools help you organize tasks, set reminders, and track progress. By having a visual representation of your deadlines and the tasks leading up to them, you can better manage your time and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

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Érika Pinheiro

Soluções em RH e DHO com foco em Recrutamento, Treinamento e DEI | Cultura Organizacional | Gestão de Talentos | Mentora de Empregabilidade & Carreira | Palestrante | Colunista na Rádio ES | Host do PODBench
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As ferramentas nos auxiliam muito no processo de organização. Até porque, nossa mente serve para criarmos estratégias e trazer as melhores soluções e não pra funcionar como uma agenda. Você pode usar calendários ou agendas digitais ou manuais, o trello ou notion, entre outras ferramentas. Para gerenciar o tempo, sugiro a técnica pomodoro, onde você realiza tarefas sem interrupções num período de 4 blocos de 25 minutos e pausa de 5. Pode usar o despertadorou algum software.

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6 Monitor Progress

Regularly monitoring your progress against the estimated timelines is crucial for staying on track. If you notice you're falling behind schedule, you can take immediate action to realign your efforts or adjust expectations if necessary. This ongoing evaluation not only helps you meet deadlines but also improves your future time estimates by highlighting where adjustments are needed.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Mounia MADIH

Directrice de projets | Passionate Event Management Professional | Events & Entertainment Enthusiast
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Pour améliorer vos compétences en estimation du temps et respect des délais, commencez impérativement par analyser minutieusement vos projets passés pour identifier les écarts et ajuster vos prévisions futures. Ensuite, décomposez les grandes tâches en sous-tâches plus petites pour obtenir des estimations plus précises. Intégrez toutes ces informations dans un tableau pour suivre efficacement les délais et les jalons. En phase finale, effectuez des suivis réguliers, ajustez en temps réel ce qui doit l'être et assurez-vous que chaque deadline est respectée avec rigueur.

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Here's how you can enhance your skill in estimating task completion time and meeting deadlines.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Break it Down

2 Past Reflection

3 Time Buffers

4 Prioritize Tasks

5 Use Tools

6 Monitor Progress

7 Here’s what else to consider

Career Management

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Here's how you can enhance your skill in estimating task completion time and meeting deadlines.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Break it Down

2 Past Reflection

3 Time Buffers

4 Prioritize Tasks

5 Use Tools

6 Monitor Progress

7 Here’s what else to consider

Career Management

Rate this article

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