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