As an initial step toward effective team time management, what should the FSO do?

The most effective initial step toward managing team time is to agree upon clearly defined decision channels. By establishing who is responsible for making decisions and the processes involved in reaching those decisions, the team can significantly enhance its efficiency. Clear decision channels minimize confusion, reduce delays in obtaining approvals, and help team members understand how to communicate their inputs and concerns. This clarity allows team members to focus on their tasks rather than navigating ambiguous hierarchies or responsibilities.

While aligning project objectives, setting up regular meetings, and clarifying that all decisions require approval are important aspects of team management, they can be less effective without a well-defined decision-making framework. Without clarity on how decisions are made, objectives may be misaligned, meetings may become unproductive, and the approval process could slow the team's progress. Hence, establishing clear decision channels lays a strong foundation for overall team effectiveness and time management.