8th Time Keeping Dialogue Series: Speakers Call For Prioritization Of Tasks

Two guest speakers at the eighth edition of Time Keeping Dialogue Series organised by Transformation Leadership Concepts (TLC), a behavioural and attitudinal change advocacy group, have called for prioritization of tasks.

According to them, this would help people to make the most of the workday.

Oheneyere Gifty Anti, broadcaster, and author; and Shamima Muslim, Founder and Convener of the Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA) who spoke on the topic: ‘Mothers and Timekeeping: Multitasking, Efficiency and Balance’ to mark this year’s Mother’s Day agreed that people could not achieve much if they don’t prioritize their time.

Setting the ball rolling for the more than one hour Zoom discussion, Madam Anti, said mothers and the public should prioritize tasks in order of importance.

For instance, she said: “As a busy person, I prioritize what is more important to be attended to first before the other tasks”.

Madam Anti was quick to add: “Remember that we are not superwomen, so we cannot do all things at the same time. We therefore need to prioritize what needs to be done first, while others follow in that order”.

The challenges are all over us. But you cannot do all, so you have to leave the rest to God, she stated.

However, the broadcast journalist noted that women, especially mothers, are always trying to perfect things in order not to be criticized which makes them struggle to get things done perfectly.

“When things go wrong, they blame the women. Sometimes, they praise us too when we get things right”, Madam Anti added.

For Madam Muslim: “If we plan our time properly and prioritize it as well, we will achieve a lot in a day”.

Every mother has the right to prioritize what she wants to and should not be pressured to perform tasks beyond her strength, according to her.

“As mothers, we must learn how to forgive ourselves if we are not able to perform all our tasks at a particular time”.

Madam Muslim also advised mothers to be mindful of what their bodies are telling them to enable them to live a healthy life.

“For me, we must learn to give ourselves a break because we cannot do all the things at the same time”, she further advised.

Madam Muslim who is also a broadcast journalist appealed to mothers to use their blocks of time to do other things for themselves.

For instance, she said she used her block time to set up the Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA), a leading media NGO that champions issues relating to women in media in Ghana and beyond.

Quick tips for effective prioritization of task(s)

The two guest speakers who are both mothers did not hesitate to offer some quick tips for effective task prioritisation.

write down to-do list: They advised mothers and the public to pen down task(s) they intend to.
Reject tasks or duties beyond your capacity: As a mother, you should not try to perform too many tasks or duties that are beyond your capacity.
Learn to delegate: They advised mothers and women in general to learn to delegate some of their tasks to their supporting staff, relatives, and friends. “As mothers, we should learn to delegate. By outsourcing some of our responsibilities to trusted hands”, they said.
Let’s streamline some of the activities
Give or create clear deadlines: As mothers, we should give ourselves full visibility of deadlines, and create deadlines for ourselves when none are formally required.
Avoid being a perfectionist, learn to be candid and learn to take a break
Your sanity, health, and peace of mind matter
Embrace your reality as mothers

Mrs Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, the host of the Dialogue Series which was held via zoom and streamed live on Facebook, said the two guest speakers have achieved a lot despite their busy schedules.

Mrs Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, a communications for development advocate

Background

Instructively, the timekeeping initiative is being undertaken by the TLC to help create a better timekeeping culture in Ghana and across Africa.

It was launched to improve the chronic lateness and lack of respect for time and timekeeping in Ghana, according to Mrs Georgina, Asare Fiagbenu, a communication for development advocate.

The national timekeeping initiative is targeted at policymakers, media, legislators, event organizers, corporate leaders, politicians, teachers, professionals, the youth, civil society, and behavioral change agents, she explained.

The dialogue series has featured distinguished personalities such as Professor Lade Wosornu, a retired surgeon, poet, and a fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences; Nana Kwasi Gyan Apenteng, communication and culture expert; Sydney Casely Hayford, social commentator; Manasseh Awuni, journalist and a social commentator; Ibrahim K. Asante, International speaker, trainer and peak performance strategist; Mrs Comfort Ocran, motivational speaker and author; Mrs. Ewurabena Benin, learning facilitator and author; Yvonne Oppong Ayisi, a manager at CBG, among others.