Which time waster does a manager have the least control over?

A manager has the least control over paperwork overload because this issue often stems from organizational structures and processes that are beyond the direct influence of an individual manager. While policies and procedures contribute to the volume of paperwork, managers typically must comply with the requirements set by regulatory bodies, institutional policies, and operational necessities. This means that no matter how effective a manager is at planning and organizing their time, they may still face significant paperwork demands that cannot be easily mitigated or reduced.

On the other hand, failure to set objectives, inability to say no, and procrastination are behaviors or practices that a manager can address directly through personal strategies and team management techniques. For instance, a manager can work to establish clear goals with their team (addressing the failure to set objectives), develop assertive communication skills to handle requests (tackling the inability to say no), and implement time management techniques to overcome procrastination. Thus, while all time wasters can impact productivity, paperwork overload is influenced by external factors that limit a manager's control in a significant way.