Tips for avoiding burnout

Not so long ago, the good manager was organized, planned ahead and set goals – both at the golf facility and at home. Today, the watchwords are flexibility, coordination and communication.

• Set priorities.
  Pareto’s Principle says that 20 percent of what you do creates 80 percent of the value. Flag the tasks that really need your attention, and back-burner or outsource the rest.
  
• Be flexible.
  Leave yourself time to adjust to unforeseen events and new information in both your professional and personal life. Scheduling too many activities in too short a time frame inevitably creates stress. For many areas of the country, this is the time of year to take a step back and re-examine the whole schedule.
  
• Build in buffers.
  Time management experts say it’s easy to get overwhelmed when you don’t build in enough time to switch from one task to another – often a necessity for golf course managers during golf season. In mapping out your day, schedule breathers when possible between different activities – maybe one of them will work out!
  
• Understand the limits of technology.
  Face time still matters, both in the office and at home. Hold a weekly family meeting to coordinate schedules, raise family matters and address money concerns.
  
• Fuel your creativity.
  Run a marathon, learn how to cook, listen to music, or just read a non-golf-related book. Such activities offer rest, relaxation and time to think creatively while not worrying about a deadline.

Source: BusinessWeek, Oct. 3, 2005.