Time Well Spent, Lyndon Jones and Paul Loftus.
Chaudhry, Harish
Time Well Spent, Lyndon Jones and Paul Loftus, Kogan Page Limited,
Great Britain and USA, 2009, Price US $ 17.95 Pages : 240
A brilliant book, a complete treatise in effectiveness, Lyndon
Jones and Paul Loftus have created a masterpiece in management
literature. Volumes and volumes have been written on this
topich--'Time Management', some focusing on the context of the
self, others on tools and techniques. 'Time Well Spent' is
perhaps the first book that puts it all together and also highlights the
use of the state-of-the-art technology. It touches every aspect of
manager's job and role.
That time, available time, is a great equalizer is well known and
that productivity of time is a function of the individuals own mental
set-up and the tools employed is also well-known, however, the
integration of the two has often been lacking. The psychologists and
behavioral scientists have laid a greater emphasis on personal goal
setting and self-development and selfmanagement. The scientific
management gurus have laid great emphasis on tools and techniques of
time management with advice on data recording and analysis. The authors
have clearly brought out the interplay between the two. Very carefully,
they also point out that 'one size does not fit all'. With
guidelines to 'know yourself', they suggest to the reader a
practical approach to selecting the tools that best fit the personality
of the reader.
The text is both classical and contemporary. The book is as
relevant to a manager as to an individual, maybe a doctor, an engineer,
a teacher or any other professional. The first two
chapters--'Determining and attaining your life goals' and
'Increasing your leisure time' grip the attention of any
reader and one is enthused to proceed further. The next five chapters
take the reader through an exploration of the self and allow one to take
on inward look at their personality and behavioral patterns. The next
five chapters give the readers a practical set of tools to document,
analyze and modify work pattern and habits for enhanced effectiveness.
The next set of seven chapters are a guide to self-development and
self-management dealing with such obvious but oft ignored topics as
effective delegation and meetings and dovetailing it with effective
reading and writing.
The book is contemporary and updated to the state-of-art
technologies. It does not subscribe to a blind faith in technology and
its unthinking adoptions, nor does reject it outright, but strikes a
remarkably simple balance between the two. It suggests to the reader an
approach to finding the best fit between personal resources and
environmental opportunities.
Only the practical theorists like Lyndon Jones and Paul Loftus
could have created such a unique blend of theory and practice. Grounded
in sound theory, enriched by practical experience, the task is a guide,
not only for 'time management' but for 'personal
effectiveness'. In my opinion, reading this book is a 'Time
very well spent'.
Dr. Harish Chaudhry
Department of Managements Studies
IIT, Delhi
