How do you manage your time as a team leader?

In my experience, some of the things that have helped me are: - Having clarity on what I will be delegating and to whom - Having a plan and a calendar of activities in advance and sticking to this plan as much as possible - Clearly defining roles for the team members to ensure there is no overlap - Creating an environment of trust and avoiding micromanagement so that the team is empowered - Using collaborative tools to track progress

One thing I've found helpful is to prioritize tasks by focusing on high-impact activities first. I break down larger tasks into smaller steps, setting clear deadlines to ensure timely completion. Actually, I disagree with trying to multitask too much. It’s better to concentrate on one task at a time to maintain quality and avoid burnout. An example I've seen is using time-blocking techniques to allocate specific hours for meetings, project reviews, and team check-ins. This helps ensure that I stay organized, manage my responsibilities effectively, and still make time for supporting my team.

As a team leader, I prioritize effective time management to ensure both personal and team productivity. I begin by setting clear goals and priorities, breaking them down into actionable tasks. I use tools like calendars and project management software to schedule tasks and allocate time. Regularly reviewing progress helps me make necessary adjustments. Delegation is key; I assign tasks to team members based on their strengths. I also guard against overloading myself, promoting a healthy work-life balance. Flexibility is crucial; I allocate time for unexpected challenges. Lastly, I encourage open communication, allowing team members to share their progress and any roadblocks. This approach helps us achieve our targets efficiently.

You are a team leader of course. Know what your deliverables are and then delegate to the team. You are a leader, behave like that. Your 1st job is to trust your team and build a system so that your team trust you.

It is important to realize that as a leader your role is not to do everything, or even know everything about everything. Your team will mostly rely on you for either direction, or 'step back' thinking. This means you need to focus on knowing the 'why' of every initiative, knowing what questions to ask, and giving helping with the zoomed out thought process when the team needs it.

Schedules are essential for understanding resource allocation. You are not a fortune teller. You won't always get it right the first time. But a schedule gives you something to work towards. Deadlines and milestones also light a fire to get you and your team moving. Even if temporary, deadlines drive bursts of productivity.

Enough can't be said about implementing good tools to manage processes and workflows. Smartsheet or Asana will save your sanity if you have projects with a lot of variance and specialization in the work breakdowns. Take some time to learn how your CRM manages workflows and ITTT(if this, then that) processes. You might find a lifesaver that your administrator never thought about.

Planning and scheduling ensure that you allocate time to your most important tasks. - Use tools like calendars, planners, or time management apps. - Prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance. - Schedule blocks of uninterrupted time for deep work and critical tasks.

You want your staff to learn to think ahead, thoroughly think through, from start to finish the work at hand. If they come to you, it's about resources, so create the environment that has them develop their own skills and experienced resources, their own signature to prove they understand the work. Quality resources mean that they know what they're doing, so that you can get on with your career management, which is to create your next career role. This is a stage in your own development that you want them to see you doing. Because it educates them in how to preform those building blocks. Your staff are a reflection of your work, make sure that they add in their own personal style, as that is a telling sign, that you're a Team Leader :}

The skill that is most important for being a team leader is the art of knowing when to step in and when to give your team space. The correct intervention can help the team grow in confidence, while an intervention at the incorrect time can completely demotivate the team and lose their ability to work independently. The leader should continuously strive to become replaceable - create processes to manage, and push the envelope in delegating without being insecure about his/her position.

The third step I take to manage my time as a team leader is to delegate and empower my team. I’ve learned that I don’t have to handle everything myself—nor should I. I identify tasks that can be delegated based on my team members’ skills, interests, and availability. When delegating, I provide clear instructions, set expectations, and offer constructive feedback. Most importantly, I trust my team to deliver their best. This not only frees up my time for more strategic and creative work but also helps my team grow in confidence and capability. Delegation isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration within the team.

About delegation, while it is generally spoken about delegating to the team, what I also do occasionally and is not spoken about so widely is to 'Delegate upward'. If you have higher-ups or superiors, delegate tasks to them when appropriate. This can free up your time for more impactful responsibilities. This has worked for me immensely on many occasions.

Foster a culture of collaboration. Beyond task delegation, encouraging open communication and collaborative problem-solving among team members can lead to innovative solutions and a more engaged, empowered team. This approach not only distributes workload efficiently but also promotes a sense of shared responsibility and achievement within the team.

I think as a team leader, you are always going to put off fire of some kind. Also unlike other team members there are additional responsibilities that come, so distributing the work in most efficient way would be the best way to make sure that you have enough time to handle things and do not burn out. This can be your way of empowering and mentoring your team members for the direction they aspire too!

Effective communication and collaboration ensure that everyone is on the same page and working efficiently. - Hold regular team meetings to discuss progress and address issues. - Use collaboration tools like project management software and communication platforms. - Encourage open and transparent communication within the team.

I have a personal experience that illustrates the importance of effective communication & collaboration as a team leader happened during a project I led. We were tasked with a tight deadline. I established regular communication channels including daily stand-up meetings for updates & feedback. One day, a team member encountered a roadblock that threatened our timeline. He brought it to the group's attention during our stand-up meeting. Through open discussion, we quickly realized that another team had faced a similar issue. By collaborating with them, we adapted their solution to fit our needs, ensuring we stayed on track. Effective communication and collaboration improved our performance, boosted morale & strengthened our team's bond.

A leader should work to create processes that can replace him/her. Dependency on an individual for work/decision making can be a major bottleneck. A leader should focus on two aspects here: 1) managing by exception meaning that he/she does not need to intervene at every step. 2) There needs to be a task tracker that can be a ready reckoner for everyone on the team to be on the same page. This helps streamline progress and coordination.

Your staff will educate themselves to the point where they automate and streamline themselves, it's up to them to educate you, on their methods, measures and manner of processes. If you do it, they won't understand at your level of knowledge, which is why they need to do it, on the job. You are their resource, always have that in mind, and level it up at every chance.

Fostering creativity and adaptability. While automation streamlines processes, it's equally important for a team leader to encourage a culture that values creative problem-solving and adapts to changing circumstances. Emphasizing a balance between efficiency and flexibility ensures the team remains agile and responsive to evolving challenges, contributing to sustained success in a dynamic work environment.

First of all, get involved into every granular process you are responsible to do. Make a army around you who can handle each and every thing. Recognise them, empower them and give them ample opportunities. Align everyone to follow systems and processes. Review regularly and be patient as every leader takes time to be a leader. I think by doing this anyone can have fair me time where he/she can think what’s going wrong in the business

Be honest with yourself on reflection and try to understand that leadership includes you and how you feel. It’s natural to feel disappointment but essential to not let it make you feel down and equally it’s natural to feel ecstatic but essential to not feel invincible. Be confident that reflection helps you improve not only what you’re doing but also how you feel.

The final step in effective time management as a team leader is to review and reflect on your performance. -Assess how well you’ve met your goals and metrics, identifying what strategies succeeded and where improvements are needed. -Celebrate your achievements and analyze any setbacks to learn from them. -Gather feedback from your team and stakeholders to gain additional insights. -This reflective process helps you refine your skills, adjust your strategies, and continuously enhance your leadership effectiveness.

Here are a few insights which work for me and has helped me in managing my time as a team leader. Hope you find them useful; Practice the 2-Minute Rule: If a task takes less than 2 minutes to complete, I do it immediately. This prevents small tasks from accumulating and becoming overwhelming. Avoid Multitasking: I prefer to focus on one task at a time. Multitasking can decrease efficiency and lead to errors. Say No: Over the years I have learned to decline tasks or commitments that don't align with my priorities. IMO it is always good to politely but firmly communicate your limits. Practice Self-Care: Take breaks, get enough sleep, eat healthily, and engage in physical activity. A well-rested and healthy leader is more productive.

Stephen Covey articualted it best: "Time management is a misnomer, the challenge is to manage ourselves". When you know yourself, you know which activities are best for you, are best delegated and needs more attention. In my upcoming book, I introduce the Time/Energy graph. This graphs allows you to know where to put your focus as a team leader. It is all based on understanding yourself I your team members first. In the book, I talk about how: "Energy draining does not necessarily mean it will take time." Some activities can be done fast, but are energy draining preventing you to give your best after. Consider your energy giving & draining activities as a leader both for you & your team members.