Managing your Time

Hey Friends,

Hope you are having a good week. It has been an interesting couple of weeks for me personally. I have welcomed by second daughter into the world which has been an incredible experience. Currently walking around like a zombie due to the lack of sleep but wouldn’t change it for the world. Pleased to confirm a routine is gradually unfolding which is certainly welcomed. I am not sure where the time goes, she will be 3 weeks old tomorrow.

There are lots and lots of things which take up our time in life. Whether it’s children, relationships, work commitments or something else. It can be quite easy to say “I don’t have time” or “I am just too busy”. I have been guilty of this previously. In reality, I do have time, I am just deciding to prioritise other tasks or pleasures, such as browsing Instagram or LinkedIn, or watching TV. How many times have you been browsing on Facebook or Instagram to realise 45 mins has just gone by….. What did I achieve in that time? Am I now closer towards my own goals? Probably not…

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash

This is a common challenge I see with employees and leaders. Ultimately we all need a game plan. Tasks, emails, things don’t get done unless we have some structure to our day. We’ll focus on the urgent work and things which are on fire and neglect the important proactive work. Such as spending time with our people to nurture and build relationships. Finding time for the important work will reduce the likelihood of things becoming urgent.

Stephen Covey illustrates this in his well known time management matrix:

As the image demonstrates operating in quadrant 2 and focusing on the important work is the way to lead. Stuff breaks, people make silly decisions. You are not going to be able to live a life in quadrant 2 all the time but it’s important to stay in there as much as possible and get the important work done. You will burn out quickly and will not live a fulfilling life if you are always in quadrant 1. I am sure we could all priotise important work more often.

Thanks for reading.

David

Resources Of The Week

  • YouTube - Brandon Burchard - What Great Leaders Actually Do. When I discovered this video I was instantly glued. Brendan talks through the 6 Es of Leadership and what behaviors make us great leaders.

  • Book - James Kerr - Legacy. Great story on why the New Zealand All Blacks was such a formidable force and so successful. Why? They lived by 15 core leadership behaviors which all great leaders should adopt.

  • Book - The New Manager’s Handbook. New to Management or considering a role?, or want to brush up on your skills? This is the book for you. The 101 of Management. 24 crucial lessons to being successful in your role.

Quote of the Week

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” - Stephen Covey

Motivation Hit

  • Mateusz - Dream. This chap puts together motivational speeches, music and video clips. I love watching these as it inspires me and motivates me to take action. Enjoy.

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Hello, My name is David, I am a Tech Leader, Blogger and Runner from Hove, UK. Every week I write a Newsletter covering Leadership and Personal Development and anything else I came across which will add value to your journey and inspire you to take action.

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