The Ti‐Mandi window: a time‐management tool for managers

The Ti‐Mandi Window (pronounced Time‐and‐I) is the management version of the well‐known Johari Window. It is built on the familiar two‐by‐two matrix that classifies management tasks as to whether, or not, they are urgent and/or important. In the conventional matrix, the quadrants are indicated by Roman numerals. To heighten interest, the Ti‐Mandi Window gives the quadrants indicative names: priority for action (I), neglected essentials (II), trivial hot potatoes (III), and – the light‐hearted – goofing off (IV). To fight the tyranny of the so‐called urgent, managers must take control of the labels that are put on tasks. They must strip away the fake “urgent” labels that are put on “trivial hot potatoes” – by breaking away – and redirecting the time saved by getting focused on the “neglected essentials”. The window shows how the two processes interact. Working together, they ensure that a manager’s time is concentrated on activities that are both urgent and important.