One of the most significant shifts you’ll experience as a new leader is how you manage your time. Many high-potential individuals struggle with this transition, often leading to burnout and exhaustion.
The Time Management Challenge
As a new leader, you might feel you’re managing your time well, but common indicators often suggest otherwise. Here are some flags that might signal a need for reevaluation of your work schedule:
Are you constantly busy but rarely productive? Are your days packed with tasks, yet you feel like you’re not carrying out your key goals?
You have no time for strategic thinking. You’re so caught up in daily operations that you can’t find time to plan for the future.
Do you often feel exhausted and overwhelmed, and unable to recharge even after the weekend?
You’re not spending enough time coaching and developing your team members.
Are you finding yourself doing tasks that should have been completed by or could be delegated to others?
Shifting Perspectives on Time Management
As a leader, your time should be spent on activities that drive the team and organization forward. Not to say that the tasks you completed before becoming a leader didn’t contribute to this, however as a leader, it’s necessary to take a step back from the day-to-day tasks to allow yourself to look into the distance, to see where the team is headed or to create the vision for them. Once you are clear on your priorities, intentional time management and decision-making become SO much easier.
Here are 5 essential shifts to consider when it comes to priority-setting as a new leader:
#1: Focus on Strategic Priorities
Allocate time for strategic planning and high-impact activities. As a leader, your role expands beyond day-to-day tasks to encompass strategic planning and high-impact initiatives that drive the organization forward. Here’s how to do it:
Clearly define the long-term goals and objectives of your team or organization. Ensure your daily activities align with these goals. Not all organizations are clear on this so it might take some digging around on your part, but it is still an important exercise.
Use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks by urgency and importance. Focus on high-impact tasks that contribute to your strategic objectives, rather than doing what is familiar and comfortable.
Block out regular time in your calendar specifically for strategic planning. This could be a few hours each week dedicated solely to thinking about the future, setting the vision, then setting goals, and developing strategies.
Regularly review your progress towards strategic goals and adjust your plans as needed to stay on track.
#2: Delegate Effectively
Delegating isn’t just about getting others to do the work. Part of your role as a leader is to grow your team members’ skill sets. Effective delegation is also crucial for maximizing your team’s productivity and allowing you to focus on higher-level responsibilities. Here’s how to delegate more effectively:
Know the skills and strengths of each team member. Delegate tasks that match their abilities, interests and areas for growth.
When delegating a task, be clear about the expected outcome, deadlines, and any specific guidelines – unless there is a strict process, refrain from telling folks exactly “how to” get their tasks done. Micro-managing does nothing to help develop their sense of ownership over tasks.
Ensure your team has the necessary resources, training, and support to complete the tasks you delegate.
Avoid always delegating to the same individuals. Not only can this be perceived as favoristism, but can over-burden your potentially highest-potential team member who always says “yes”. Remember - some people have a hard time saying no.
#3: Develop Your Team
Invest in your team’s growth through coaching, mentoring, and feedback. Your success as a leader is no longer dependent on your solo success: it is now closely tied to the growth and success of your team. Increasing your team’s skillset will not only increase their work capacity, but constant learning opportunities will ensure the team evolves and will keep them more engaged in their work. You can invest in their development with these strategies:
Schedule regular one-on-one meetings with team members to discuss their progress, provide feedback, and offer your support.
Work with each team member to create a personalized development plan that includes their career goals, skills to develop, and action steps.
Offer opportunities for learning and development through increasingly complex projects, training programs, workshops, conferences, and online courses.
Provide prompt and constructive feedback that helps team members improve their performance and develop new skills.
Meaningfully recognize and celebrate the achievements and progress of your team members to motivate and encourage further growth.
#4: Reserve Time for Reflection
Schedule regular time to reflect on your leadership practices and team performance. Reflection is a powerful tool for continuous improvement and effective leadership. Here’s how to incorporate it into your routine:
Set aside a few minutes each day or week to reflect on your actions, decisions, and interactions. Ask yourself what went well and what could have been improved - and document it.
Regularly seek feedback from your team and peers to gain different perspectives on your leadership.
Reflect on your progress towards personal and team goals. Adjust your strategies as necessary to stay on course.
#5: Maintain Work-Life Balance
Ensure you have time for personal well-being to sustain long-term productivity. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for preventing burnout and sustaining long-term productivity. Here’s how to achieve it:
Clearly define your work hours and stick to them. Don’t just communicate these boundaries – model them to your team.
Make time for activities that rejuvenate you, such as exercise, hobbies, spending time with family and friends.
Schedule regular breaks throughout your workday to recharge and avoid fatigue.
If you’re struggling to maintain balance, seek support from mentors, coaches, or professional counselors. So many others have been in your shoes. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel – and you’re certainly not alone. The is an entire community within reach, ready to help. You just have to keep asking until you find those individuals who will support you.
By transforming your schedule, you can focus on what truly matters: leading strategically, developing your team, and maintaining a healthy balance. A bonus side effect of keeping this balance while still carrying out what needs to be addressed is having the mental capacity and energy to show up as a better version of yourself, both at work and at home. Once new leaders truly grasp the concept that effective time management is not about doing more; it’s about doing what’s most important, life gets easier.
Embrace the changes in your time management approach, and you’ll not only avoid burnout but also thrive in your leadership role. Keep an eye out for the flags that signal a need for adjustment, and continuously refine your schedule to align with your leadership goals.
If you are looking for a more customized leadership development experience, leadership coaching may be the better option to get you to your professional development goals faster. Book a complimentary “Discovery Call” to discuss your goals and see if working with a leadership coach might be the way to go.