Work momentum is starting to reach a new normal as we recover, or at least get used to the impact of COVID.
As things return to normal, and some return to the office occurs, how do you avoid getting caught up in the fray of busywork and relentless meetings. Make sure you protect your wellbeing. Focus your attention and energy where it really counts and where you’ll feel the most satisfaction.
To help, I’ve resurrected the 4 Disciplines of Execution:
- Focus on the wildly important: when you do, it creates a clearer message and simplifies effort.
- Act on lead measures: using them helps you see what will have impact in the future.
- Keep a compelling scoreboard: The scoreboard helps you see both the tangible results as well as calibrate how much effort is required to achieve them.
- Create a cadence of accountability: regular and frequent meetings for those who own the goals. It is immediately obvious when things are on and off track and possible then to take action to remediate.
Focusing on what matters most is the third in my flexible leader whitepaper series – check it out here.
Time management is one tried and true tactic to help you to focus on what matters the most. Investing time in good time management really is worth it.
We’re usually inspired to improve our time management to increase productivity – work more efficiently, concentrate better, reduce distraction.
A recent meta-analysis by Aeon, Faber & Alexandra Panaccio of hundreds of reviews of time management practices – from the 1980s up until 2019 – showed that it does more than that. The research produced both expected and surprising results.
They say:
Time management improves well-being – life satisfaction in particular – and job performance.
They concluded:
- Time management improves well-being, in particular life satisfaction: well-being is not a by-product
- The only real (small) difference between people who were more effective was conscientiousness, which you’d pretty much expect
- Women manage time just slightly better than men and has been rising over the past few decades
- Time management increases job performance
The impact on well-being was 72% GREATER than on job performance.
They identified 3 key aspects of time management:
- Structure – such as scheduling and planning your time systematically
- Protection – setting boundaries around your time
- Adaptation to changing conditions – being responsive and flexible with your schedule
There’s a bigger benefit than we expect when we can manage our time well.
