3 Identifying Demands

Who makes demands on your time?

The following list is typical of the demands made on managers. See whether any of these apply to you, and then do Activity 13, which follows.

• Workteam members demand from you:

  • clear instructions about tasks;

  • training in new tasks;

  • discussion about any proposed changes;

  • that an interest be taken in them;

  • help with problems.

• Higher management demand that you:

  • lead your team effectively;

  • meet specific targets;

  • feed back information;

  • implement instructions.

• Other teams demand that you:

  • work in unison with them, for the benefit of the organization;

  • share information.

• Customers demand from you:

  • a quality product;

  • a professional service;

  • courtesy.

In filling out the list above of the demands made on your time at work, you may also have been conscious of demands made on your time outside work your home and social life. It is not always easy to separate the two.

It's not possible to respond to every demand. In a typical situation, you...