The Art of Self-Management: Five Areas in Your Control

"How can you manage others if you can't even manage yourself?" my boss asked.

And she was right. As a long-term employee, one that others looked to for information, I would sometimes become so absorbed in the details of my own work that I would completely neglect other duties. That's when I knew I wasn't destined for management. But I could become fully capable of managing myself.

The art of self-management comes from an ability to be self-motivated and sufficiently well-disciplined in order to oversee and control those things within your immediate sphere of influence. Think of The Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

The art of self-management is all about having the knowledge of what you can or cannot control and the skill to manage the things you can. Here are five areas you have control over.

Manage Your Productivity

One of the biggest areas that you can self-manage is your level of productivity. How much energy and effort you put into your work, your level of organization, and whether you use your time effectively will all impact your ability to be productive.

According to writer David Beardsley's article Don't Manage Time, Manage Yourself, written for FastCompany.com, "Productivity is about completion." And by "identifying all the 'incompletes' in your life - from mundane tasks to pressing responsibilities" you can then determine what steps you need to take next to complete them.

Manage Your Behavior

You may not be able to control the situations around you, but you can control your response to them. Understanding your reaction as well as the impact of your verbal and physical behaviors on others can help limit negative consequences.

Before you respond to what is happening, count to ten, breathe deeply and think. If you need to, ask for a time out and walk away. Responding with harsh words, tears, or a sarcastic comment won't get you where you want to go.

Manage Your Time

Everyone has 24 hours in a day. You can't water it to make it grow, nor buy more when you run low. That means you need to set short- and long-term goals with milestones for accomplishments to keep you on track toward your deadlines.

One of the best ways to manage your time is to plan. Yes, it would be great if every moment of the day could be spontaneous. However, you'd likely find that those around you would become frustrated when you didn't meet your commitments. So, whether you have to create one to-do list or ten, make your coworkers and boss happy by planning.

Manage Your Projects

Just like planning your time, it's important to plan your projects, too. That means understanding not just the project time line, but the scope of the project, the available resources, and the desired outcome. Once you know these elements you can create a preliminary plan of action. But that's not the end of it.

It is your responsibility to ensure you communicate your progress regularly with those who need to know (like your boss) and to advise them if you run into problems, whether that means missing a deadline, running over budget, or anything else.

Manage Your Career

If you have career aspirations, it is up to you to let others know. It is up to you to define your short- and long-term career goals. It is up to you to take actionable steps toward achieving your career goals. Learn new things, meet new people, have new experiences, and explore your options. Remember that the best way to manage your career is to manage yourself.