How can you manage your time and energy more effectively?

1 Set SMART goals

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These are the criteria that can help you define your goals clearly and realistically, and track your progress and results. By setting SMART goals, you can prioritize your most important and urgent tasks, and align them with your vision and values. You can also break down your goals into smaller and manageable steps, and celebrate your achievements along the way.

2 Plan your day and week

Planning your day and week in advance can help you allocate your time and energy more efficiently, and avoid distractions and procrastination. You can use a calendar, a planner, or a digital tool to schedule your tasks, meetings, and deadlines, and block out time for your priorities. You can also review your plan at the end of each day and week, and adjust it as needed. Planning your day and week can also help you balance your work and personal life, and create space for rest and recovery.

3 Delegate and outsource

Delegating and outsourcing are essential skills for executive management, as they allow you to leverage the talents and expertise of others, and focus on your core competencies and responsibilities. You can delegate and outsource tasks that are routine, repetitive, or low-value, or that require skills or knowledge that you don't have or want to develop. You can also delegate and outsource tasks that are strategic or high-value, but that can be done better or faster by someone else. To delegate and outsource effectively, you need to communicate clearly, set expectations, provide feedback, and monitor progress.

4 Manage your energy

Managing your energy is as important as managing your time, as it affects your motivation, creativity, and performance. You can manage your energy by understanding your natural rhythms and preferences, and aligning your tasks and activities with them. For example, you can do your most challenging and creative work when you are most alert and energized, and save your less demanding and routine work for when you are less focused and tired. You can also manage your energy by taking breaks, eating well, exercising, sleeping, and meditating.

5 Say no and negotiate

Saying no and negotiating are also crucial skills for executive management, as they help you protect your time and energy, and avoid overcommitting or underdelivering. You can say no and negotiate when you receive requests or demands that are unreasonable, unrealistic, or irrelevant to your goals and priorities. You can also say no and negotiate when you need more resources, support, or flexibility to complete your tasks and projects. To say no and negotiate effectively, you need to be assertive, respectful, and solution-oriented.

6 Learn and improve

Learning and improving are the keys to achieving excellence and growth in executive management. You can learn and improve by seeking feedback, coaching, mentoring, or training, and by reflecting on your successes and failures. You can also learn and improve by reading, listening, watching, or attending relevant and valuable content and events, and by applying your new knowledge and skills to your work. Learning and improving can help you enhance your competence, confidence, and credibility, and adapt to changing needs and expectations.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?