Many of the leaders I work with are looking for time management tips.
My more than 30 years of experience as a leadership coach have helped me realize that the most effective leaders treat time management as a secondary task. For them, the real secret to high productivity and real results is energy management.
When you feel like you don’t have enough time in the day to do what you want to do, you may be tempted by the idea of continuing your work late into the day and pushing your physical and mental limits. As a result, most people burn out long before they reach their goals.
When I advise my clients on how to use their time effectively, I always direct their focus to energy management. Allocating the energy we have can be a daunting challenge in our busy lives, but there are a few basic principles that can be of great help.
Don’t overdo it
People are often left with difficult tasks to complete late into the day, but the truth is that the longer you work, the lower your productivity becomes. The best way to complete your task on time is to take the necessary time to rest and start work with fresh energy and a clear mind.
Quality is more important than quantity
I don’t know a business leader who isn’t constantly busy with some tasks. However, it is important to remember that the question is not how many things you do at the same time, but what is the quality of their execution. Quality always trumps quantity. In addition, the feeling that a person gets when he achieves something significant is very often enough to motivate him to continue working and, in a roundabout way, to increase the amount of work done.
It is important to be present not only in the body but also in the spirit
The best way to manage your time and energy is to be fully focused on the thing or person that needs your attention. When you are focused on your task and avoid all the things that can distract you, you can solve any problem several times faster and even have energy left over to use for something else.
Don’t neglect short breaks
Numerous studies have found that people have more energy for daily tasks when they take frequent, short breaks. Simply step away from your workplace for 5 or 10 minutes and engage in some activity that makes you relax, such as a short walk or listening to music. Research proves that taking short breaks every hour gives you more energy to be productive throughout the day.
Train
You’ve probably heard it many times – exercise releases the feel-good hormone endorphins, and happy people are more energetic and productive. When you feel like you don’t have enough energy to work out but go to the gym anyway, you’ll leave the gym feeling more energized than ever. Many studies show that regular exercise plays an essential role in increasing our energy levels and reducing fatigue.
Ultimately, when you pay more attention to managing your energy, you save time and effort and become a more effective and good leader.
