Great Advice on Where to Spend Your Time

“You can do anything, but you can’t do everything.” My former CEO shared that message with our group during a company wide presentation.

We were going through a huge acquisition with an aggressive timeline to meet and she could see the stress that the organization was under to deliver on time. She wanted to make sure we focused on only what was absolutely necessary to get done.  

I have shared that same message with clients when they are overwhelmed and struggling to move forward. There are choices that have been made each day with the time that is available. I will ask clients, “Are you trying to do too much?” The answer is usually yes. Then we talk about what they are working on. Based on what I have just heard, I will ask, “Are you focused on the high value work?” The answer is usually no. Why would they spend their time on low value work? Usually, it is because the high value work is more of a time commitment and oftentimes more complex.  

Yes, that work may be harder, but taking those actions is more important to your visibility and to the company. When you are struggling to decide, here are some key questions to help you make the best choices: 

  • What actions can you take that will give you the biggest return on your time investment?
  • What is at least one action that you could take that will help the company move forward on its business objectives? 
  • What project or actions will help you (and your team) gain visibility and get in front of your management?

You might be surprised to see that last question on the list, but you only have a finite amount of time. You have to be strategic in where you spend it. The choices that you make have to be a win-win for you and the company.

Even though people may not say it, they want to know that their work matters, that the time that they spend on their work is worth it, and that they will be recognized for it. 

Look at the list of things you and your team have to do so you can focus your efforts. Leverage these questions for your own work and share them with your team so they can learn how to assess where to spend their time too!

If you need my support to help you navigate the overwhelm and get you focused on the right things, just reach out. Sometimes it just takes a single conversation to help you see what you may be missing and get you on the right track!

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