Time was on Mick Jagger's side when he penned that tune back in 1964. And time was also on the side of management in corporate America decades ago as well.
But if you're reading this, while on your cell and checking email en route to your fourth meeting of the morning - time is not on your side my friend.
According to Brian Fayak, President and CEO of professional employer services firm Nextep, "longer hours, constant connectivity, more meetings, multitasking, a 24/7 mentality and a global economy are making it more of a challenge for leaders and companies to stay focused on strategy, much less execution which is the key to productivity.
A Harvard Business Review article entitled "Beware the Busy Manager, states up to 90% of managers squander their time in all sorts of ineffective activities, while only 10% spend their time in a committed, purposeful, and reflective manner.
"Improved execution and performance is more about time management than anything else, said Fayak, "finding the right balance for yourself as a leader, and for your team.
Research shows that multitasking reduces our ability to concentrate by 10-to-15 IQ points, a number compounded when you figure in group IQ numbers.
In this "meeting era as Fayak calls it, the 24-hour culture of connectivity and access, "everyone is working harder, but working harder is far different than being busier or working longer, he adds.
Some general guidelines for companies looking to conquer the "busy manager syndrome, according to Fayak, are: "prioritize your work, simplify, work from detailed metrics, provide clarity, focus on execution, and think.
Think? "Take time to think and reflect everyday, said Fayak, "think and understand the situation beyond your own perspective.
"Proper time management and a keen focus on execution are the keys to improved performance and strengthened leadership throughout an organization, said Fayak, "time management is a tool of great leaders.
At 63, time is no longer on Mick's side. It's not on yours either.
ABOUT NEXTEP: Nextep is an established Professional Employer Services firm with time tested strategies and benefits that improve a company's bottom line. The company administers core services of human resources, payroll, benefits, workers' compensation, tax filing, government compliance and employee recruitment and retention across a broad range of industries with a personal touch.
