Time Management The
Behavioral Way
Lisa Trucil
Caldwell College
Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis
Agenda
• What does it mean to you?
• How to waste time
• Tips to not waste time
• Getting things done
• The behavioral way
• Honesty is the best policy!
Introduction
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM1A9zFkfHw
What does TIME
Management
Mean to you?
• Organization skills
• Due dates
• Lists
• Plan
• Agenda
“The act or process of
planning and exercising
conscious control over the
amount of time spent on a
specific activity, especially
to increase effectiveness,
efficiency or productivity.”
• Set goals
• Prioritize
• Proactive
• Opposite of a procrastinator
Bailey & Burch, 2010
Behavior analysts
• ARE IN GREAT DEMAND, by…
•
•
•
•
•
•
Consumers
Administrators
Teachers
Parents
Treatment coordinators
Others
• SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US?
Bailey & Burch, 2010
How to waste time
• Doing tasks that others should be doing
• Solution
• Allowing behavioral erosion or slippage to take place
• Solution
• Having to rework projects
• Solution
• Allowing others to take up your time with trivialities
• Solution
Bailey & Burch, 2010
Tip to not waste
time
• “Our general advice is for you to be kind, caring, and
analytical in your decision making regarding nonwork
requests of your time while managing your schedule in
such a way that you get your work done and maintain
your professional reputation.”
Bailey & Burch, 2010
Getting things done
• David Allen
• GURU of productivity
• http://www.davidco.com/organizations/online-learning
• Decide if what is in front of you…
• Requires action  “ask will it take less than 2 minutes?”
• Trash it or file it  it cannot be done right now
• “2-minute” rule
• Weekly review
Bailey & Burch, 2010
Getting things done
Bailey &
Burch, 2010
Time management the
behavioral way
• Premack Principle
• More probable behaviors will reinforce less probable
behaviors
• Turn your “things to do” into behaviors
• You’ll have a behavior and following each behavior you’ll
have the NEXT ACTION
• Place check marks by each item completed
• Reinforce your behavior
• See what you accomplished
Bailey & Burch, 2010
Time management The
behavioral way
Low Probability Behaviors
High Probability Behaviors
Reading articles for class
Watch Parenthood on Thursday
Cleaning room
Go out to dinner with friends on the
weekend
Writing professional dilemma paper
Get to go running
Time management via
behavior management
• Behavior analysts are a target
• Reasonable, effective person who is congenial and open
to others
• You will need to…
• Discriminate those offers
• Learn to say “no”
Bailey & Burch, 2010
Honesty is the best
policy
• Flimsy excuses make matters worse
• Just say “NO” in a polite and clear manner
• Don’t need to provide an explanation
• Be firm, make good eye contact, and repeat original reply
with a firm, objective tone of voice
Bailey & Burch, 2010
Video
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM1A9zFkfHw
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUk6LXRZMMk
• https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/stayfocus
d/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji?hl=en
Summary
• Time management is a skill that can make or break a
behavior analyst
• Plan your day
• Avoid wasting time
• Premack Principle
• To-do lists
• “2-minute” rule
resources
References
• Bailey, J., & Burch, M. (2010). 25 essential skills and
strategies for the professional behavior analyst. New York,
NY: Routledge.