Staying organised and focused is paramount to success in any job. My Productivity and Time Management words list gives you the essential Business English words and phrases to talk about priorities, efficiency, and daily routines with confidence.
You’ll find 60 practical terms and expressions, divided into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. Use them to discuss planning, deadlines, schedules, and productivity strategies in meetings or performance reviews.
👉 Beginner
👉 Intermediate
👉 Advanced
Beginner Productivity and Time Management Words
| Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Task | A piece of work to be done. | I have several tasks to finish today. |
| Time | Second, minute, hour, year etc. | We need to manage our time effectively. |
| Work | A job or task. | He focuses on his work during the day. |
| Finish | Bring (a task or activity) to an end; complete. | I need to finish this report by Friday. |
| Start | Begin or set in motion. | Let’s start the meeting on time. |
| Fast | Moving or capable of moving at high speed. | He works fast to meet deadlines. |
| Slow | Moving or operating at a low speed. | A slow internet connection hinders productivity. |
| Plan | A detailed proposal for doing or achieving something. | We need a plan to improve efficiency. |
| Schedule | A plan for carrying out a process or procedure, giving lists of intended times and events. | Please check your schedule for the meeting. |
| Organize | Arrange or put in order. | It’s important to organize your workspace. |
Intermediate Productivity and Time Management Words
| Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Efficiency | Achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense. | We aim to improve efficiency in our workflow. |
| Prioritize | Designate or treat (something) as being more important than other things. | You must prioritize your tasks based on urgency. |
| Deadline | The latest time or date by which something should be completed. | The project deadline is next week. |
| Delegate | Entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person. | Managers should delegate tasks effectively. |
| Focus | Pay particular attention to. | It’s hard to focus with distractions. |
| Streamline | Make (something) more efficient and effective by simplifying or reorganizing it. | We need to streamline our processes. |
| Procrastinate | Delay or postpone action; put off doing something. | Try not to procrastinate on important tasks. |
| Allocate | Distribute (resources or duties) for a particular purpose. | We need to allocate time for training. |
| Optimize | Make the best or most effective use of (a situation, opportunity, or resource). | We need to optimize our resources for maximum output. |
| Time Management | The process of planning and exercising conscious control over the time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency,1 or productivity. | Effective time management2 is crucial for success. |
Advanced Productivity and Time Management Words
| Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Workflow Optimization | The process of analyzing and improving the sequence of tasks in a process to increase efficiency and reduce waste. | Workflow optimization resulted in a 20% increase in productivity. |
| Bottleneck | A point of congestion or obstruction in a system that impedes overall progress. | The approval process was a bottleneck that slowed down the project. |
| Lean Methodology | A systematic method for waste minimization within a manufacturing system without sacrificing productivity. | Implementing lean methodology reduced our operational costs. |
| Agile Framework | An iterative and incremental approach to project management that emphasizes flexibility and collaboration. | We adopted an agile framework to respond quickly to changing requirements. |
| Timeboxing | A time management technique that involves allocating a fixed time period to each planned activity. | Timeboxing helped us stay on track during the project. |
| Pareto Principle | The principle that roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. | Applying the Pareto principle helped us focus on high-impact tasks. |
| Task Decomposition | The process of breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable sub-tasks. | Task decomposition made the project seem less overwhelming. |
| Just-in-Time (JIT) | A manufacturing strategy that aligns raw-material orders from suppliers directly with production schedules. | Implementing just-in-time inventory management reduced storage costs. |
| Cognitive Load | The total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. | Reducing cognitive load improves focus and productivity. |
| Continuous Improvement | An ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. | Our company is committed to continuous improvement in all areas. |
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
📚 Learning Resources
👉 Business English Vocabulary List
👉 Business English Idioms List
👥 Support Spaces
👉 Student Space
👉 Tutor Toolkit
⭐️ Extras
📫 Get a Daily Idiom
🚀 Build a Business with AI
I hope you enjoyed my Productivity and Time Management Words. You can be really efficient now.
“Nothing is particularly hard when you divide it into small jobs.” – Henry Ford.
