One of your most crucial skills as leader is being able to make TIME to complete all of your projects AND make your visions happen. That’s the difference between being a “hamster on a wheel” versus finishing that big project. As a leader, how you manage your time directly affects the productivity of your team. That is why it is so important that we tackle this topic first. If you can’t manage your time well, you will not be able to manage your career satisfaction, leadership strengths or relationships in the office. It is the pivotal point of everything else that you do.
Here are 8 time management and productivity strategies to balance your workweek:
1) Delegate. Whenever possible, you need to start delegating your tasks to other people, like an assistant. Or if you are doing work for someone else, you need to make a list of those items that aren’t officially your work and say no the next time someone asks you to complete them.
2) Create a peaceful workplace. You will be amazed how much more productive you will be if you enjoy where you work. This could mean making a home office you love where you can catch up on things when you are home. Or it could mean breaking away to a coffee shop an hour a day to knock out the email. Or it could mean organizing that desk full of papers that keeps making you feel overwhelmed.
3) Take breaks. It’s tempting to not take breaks and eat lunch at your desk but don’t fall into this temptation. Just a 10-15 minute break to think about something else will have you coming back refreshed and focused.
4) Know your most productive time. Do you jump out of bed with energy ready to work on that great project or do you get your ideas and “flow” in the middle of the night? Use your most productive time to do your most important work.
5) Fend off the time wasters. Whether it is your automatic incoming email notification or your social media updates, you need to be able to focus so turn off anything that could distract you. It takes an average of 25 minutes to return to the original task after an interruption. Think how much time you could save by eliminating your distractions!
6) Work on one thing at a time. Multi-tasking doesn’t work. Focus on the most important thing that needs to get done and start checking things off your list.
7) Schedule downtime. You will not be your best if you are constantly working. You will actually have more and better ideas about how to handle some of your work problems while you are in the shower, watching TV or exercising. Make sure you make room in your schedule to focus on other things that are important to you.
8) Let go of what doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about the details. Done is better than perfect. Stay focused on your big-picture goal.
If you enjoyed today’s article, make sure you sign up for my “Female Leadership Secrets” free training program to learn more about how to take your leadership and performance to the next level. Click here to sign up to join me live on my free webinar on November 11th!
