Time’s-a-wastin’ may be an archaic term but the message is loud and clear – manage YOURSELF, so you will not waste precious time. You have heard it said 1000’s of times, “We all have 24 hours every day. It is what we do with them that makes us different.” If you are expecting an article about productivity tools, you might as well stop reading now. This article focuses on that internal debate about the value of your time, the value of your career and the value of yourself. Neither is this a “shame on you” article. You are human, with human needs, fears, and struggles. This is a retrospective of what I have learned about time in my career and what I have learned from client experiences.
Some timewasters are external. Women I coach frequently tell me that co-workers, employees, and clients are stealing their time. Let’s be real here, they are not porch pirates stealing your time, you are Santa giving it away! (Indulge me here, it is December and I am thinking about holidays, lol) The struggle with others comes in many forms, here are two:
- The Chatters! Co-workers, staff, or clients that are chatty can derail you, if you do not set some boundaries. Chatting comes in the form of actual face-to-face conversations, texts, emails. You do not have to participate in every personal conversation, respond to every lengthy email, or text that arises. Thankfully, caller I.D. exists. There are people I avoid answering and let it go to voicemail every day. When I am focused, I know answering will be fatal. If it is a face-to-face conversation, develop your “go to” phrases: “I would love to chat, right now I am finishing the monthly report. Let’s talk at 3:00.” It is your time, take it back for you.
- The Dumpers! One of my favorite clients had an employee that was famous for dumping her work on her! Yes, you read that right, the employee was dumping work on her boss. “Monica” needed to leave early, would the boss finish it for her? “Monica” was overwhelmed, would the boss do a section of the work? “Monica” was going on vacation would the boss help her knock off some work before she left? It took a great deal of coaching to empower my client to put a stop to this dumping behavior and develop her assertive chops. Perhaps you are thinking, I would never let myself be abused like that! What about co-workers? Do you pick up the slack for co-workers? What is your version of being dumped on?
Some timewasters are internal. Fears, feelings of intimidation, and being unsure of your competency can drive timewasters. I am reminded of a time when I had one of the most important client opportunities looming, early in my business. My new business was struggling and I needed clients desperately. I had gotten a lead on a potential game changing client. However, those internal demons were taking over. They showed up in two powerful ways:
- Perfection Pattern. I revised, revised, and revised the proposal and presentation. Perfection was rearing its ugly head. This time wasting caused me to reschedule the meeting not once but twice, terribly unprofessional. In fact, the gentleman with whom I eventually had the meeting, called out my lack of professionalism re: twice rescheduling. In retrospect, being uneasy about the proposal, a better use of my time would have been to get feedback from a couple of people in my network.
- Purposeless Pattern. I found every time-wasting, low priority task possible to fill my time. I cleaned out desk drawers, filed paperwork, and I straightened my office. Pitiful, I know! These timewasters were internal and all based on fear, perfectionism, and procrastination. In my defense, it was not until much later that I realized how I was using these insignificant tasks.
Some timewasters are not timewasters at all! Historically, you have been fed the belief that rest breaks are timewasters, nothing could be farther from the truth. Short breaks are essential for re-energizing, restoring creativity, and improving focus. There is a difference between taking a short break for reenergizing versus going down rabbit holes of social media that can squander tons of time. Here are two mini-break ideas to try:
- Stretch Breaks: Take stretch breaks at your desk. Easy neck rolls and shoulder shrugs are quick and easy to do. The key is to focus on those intentionally. Do not attempt to do these and read email, texts, or type something while you are doing the stretches. This is intended as a break, do not cheat yourself out of your break!
- Walk Breaks: When I need a true reboot, I must walk. I need to get away from my desk, my computer, and phone. Take a trek around your house if you work from home. If you are in a company office, you are likely to have steps. A couple of trips up and down the steps should do the trick.
Has your ability to corral your time gotten out of control? Do you feel like a hopeless case? Don’t worry, you are not alone! I have coached many women, just like you, who did not think they could get a handle on their time. Let’s do a complimentary 45-minute consultation to determine if I could be the right person to assist you. Email Kay@highheeledsuccess.com or call (513) 561-4288 to schedule.
What does it mean to navigate your boss? Perhaps you are familiar with the term: managing up? The Harvard Business Review defines managing up as “being the most effective employee you can be, creating value for your boss and your company.” If you do not have a good relationship with your manager, chances are life isn’t going to be easy, and your career could stall or even derail. This soft skill, of managing up, can greatly enhance your career. This isn’t about being a “suck up”! If you don’t understand what makes your boss tick, you can’t possibly know how to navigate the waters with her/him. Even if you don’t particularly like your manager, you can manage up. The quote from the late Zig Zigler is appropriate here, “You can get everything in life you want, if you will just help enough people get what they want.” Let’s say you don’t like your boss, and you buck him at every turn, maybe you have even been known to sabotage him. You may feel a bit of internal satisfaction, but you are sabotaging your own career. 
Yesterday, we had work done on our patio – pressure washing, repair, sealing, etc. It was 92 degrees, with no shade. My office is in my home, so periodically I checked on progress. I became increasingly concerned about the man doing the work. I loaded up a small cooler with ice and bottles of water and took it out to him. He looked surprised, thanked me, and went back to his tasks. Later he knocked and told me he was finished for the day. Then he said, “By the way, I power washed your small deck and steps, just my way of saying thanks for being so kind. Just don’t tell my boss!” A simple act of kindness came full circle for me. I didn’t do it to get something in return, rather because I was concerned for him. Sometimes we are kind just because it is the right thing to do. Sometimes, it’s just plain smart.
No, you don’t have a migraine, not having a stroke, no aneurysm, thank goodness! Yet, you do have a serious problem. It’s the women’s dilemma of mental overload. It is the mental burden for working women that includes juggling children and households. We are not talking about the actual physical labor of taking care of children, shopping, cleaning, etc., that physical work is visible and exhausting. However, the invisible mental overload can be even more destructive. Time management gurus usually talk about planning, prioritizing, time blocking etc., to be able to focus more effectively on work. We talk less often about the mental overload that limits women’s careers. What if you cannot focus at work because you are worrying about scheduling vet appointments, children’s parent/teacher conferences, and buying new clothes for your child? It’s bound to take a hit on your career. This mental overload for women is significant. It drains focus, creativity, problem solving and work satisfaction.
