Four-frame model of successful time management

It seems that many of us are capable of organising our time and the time of our employees properly and in a rational way. If that’s the case, why are we so often faced with the lack of this prominent, valuable and sadly finite resource? At first, it seems that we do everything right: jot down plans in our notebooks, minimise distractions and stick to our goals. Perhaps the root cause of our losses and time deficit lies in failing to follow effective time management principles? Let’s try to find out what can cause this and learn how to properly manage our time in an effective and rational manner.

In order to do this, we need to talk about the four-frame model of time management. If we want to understand its principles, we must first define what time management actually means. Effective time management is a science, a tool or teaching about properly managing, distributing, organising, recording, and using time.

Why do we need the time management process?

• It is a tool that allows completing the maximum number of set tasks in the shortest time possible;

• Time management process helps to set our work priorities straight;

• It gives an opportunity to focus on the most crucial tasks first and tackle less important responsibilities only after handling high priority level assignments;

• By following proper time management models you will have time for leisure, family, and an active life outside of work.

Of course, you shouldn’t forget that effective time management is going to lead you to master new important skills and methods used in achieving specific goals and completing essential projects. The time management process is a huge mechanism that contains a wide variety of actions, skills, and abilities as any other discipline. These include proper goal setting, delegating responsibility, making lists and plans, monitoring, analysing time costs, evaluating the value of various actions, setting priorities, etc.

What is a four-frame model exactly?

Classic time management emerged some time ago, back when there was a solitary approach towards management. The world is constantly developing and the same can be said about the study of effective time distribution. After the 2012 release of “Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership” book by Lee Bolman and Terry Deal, the time management process became viewed as a complex, multi-layered apparatus. That’s when the “four-frame model” notion first appeared. It is a system of controlling your time as well as the system, process, yourself, and other people.

The main difference between monostatic and four-frame management is that traditional time management was more oriented towards controlling time based on a single component — its priority. More specifically, it concerned doing your work tasks depending on the level of their importance. The four-frame model is a more detailed, accurate and multi-faceted tool that uncovers patterns and different time management models.

In simpler terms, to make your and your employee’s work effective and successful, you have to move away from viewing the time management process as a one-sided issue. When doing your job, you have to pay attention to all four factors mentioned below. Each of them will help you reach goals and meet deadlines.

• You have to learn how to use every minute of your time properly and control it completely;

• A good company director must develop a system for carrying out certain tasks, whether this concerns his own duties or work carried out by his employees;

• You have to be in complete control of how employees work on certain tasks and projects. We’re not suggesting you should constantly control every aspect of the work process. Not to mention that a company CEO has to inspect and supervise some of the most valuable or problematic work areas;

• The final and not in the least bit important four-frame time management factor: a good boss must have self-discipline as well as the ability to control their subordinates, be self-collected, and make rational and consecutive decisions.

Of course, one shouldn’t forget about self-discipline as it is important for employees at any level: from the highest to the lowest. When both you and your employee are orderly and considerate, planning effective time management will be easy. If you don’t have a proper level of self-organisation and aren’t that good at setting your priorities straight, you will find it difficult to systematise and structure your own time.

By using this model out of all time management models, you will start controlling your own time, your employee’s time and the work process as a whole. It seems as if this tool was specially tailored for your perception of time, your attitude towards life and work. It will take into account the peculiarities of your system, as well as your work process, and will be oriented towards the people who surround you.