What do you do if you're an intern leading a team and struggling to manage your time and prioritize tasks?

I think one of the pillars in assessing needs is communication. By talking with your team, those who may be in higher management positions, peers, or those you are educating, you can figure out exactly what is needed. Once you have clarity on what the needs are, you can use various strategies to prioritize your time to make sure these needs get taken care of in a timely and effective manner.

First, figure out what tasks are important for the team and what you can do. Look at what needs to be done and how you can help. This helps you know where to start and what's most important.

Make a plan before you start working. Break down big tasks into smaller ones and decide when each part should be done. This helps you stay organized and know what to do next.

You can't do everything by yourself, so ask others to help with tasks if they can. Give tasks to people who can handle them well. This makes the workload lighter for everyone and makes the team stronger.

If you are an intern leading a team and are struggling to manage time and prioritize tasks, I think practicing communication here is highly in your benefit. Being in the intern position, I could understand the possible pressure you may feel to "perform perfectly" or at least to your very best so that you can get a good referral or be hired on as full time. However, I think practicing communicating here could actually demonstrate how important learning and doing it right is to you by admitting that you want more guidance and understanding. In these situations, asking with confidence can go a long way!

Talk to your team members clearly and tell them what needs to be done. Share updates and ask questions when you need to. Clear communication helps everyone understand what's going on and what they need to do.

Use tools like apps or software to help you work better. These tools can help you keep track of tasks, communicate with your team, and stay organized. They make work easier and more efficient.

We learn so much from our wins, but even more from our "losses." When we succeed, we gain a lot of insight about the things that helped along the way that helped make it possible. When things don't go as planned though, reflecting is a great strategy to see where the gaps are. Once the gaps have been identified, it's really helpful to get with other team members to collaborate on new ideas for future projects, or taking some time to research new ways of going about things. This is also a great opportunity to take constructive feedback from others for growing purposes.

From my experience, as an intern leading a team, struggling with time management and task prioritisation is not uncommon. Regular reflection on challenges and soliciting feedback from team members can provide valuable insights and opportunities for improvement. Utilising time management techniques, prioritising tasks effectively, and seeking guidance from mentors are essential strategies for navigating these challenges and enhancing leadership skills.

Take time to think about how things are going. Look at what you've done well and what could be better. This helps you learn from your experiences and improve over time.

Think about other things that might be important. Create a supportive environment where everyone feels valued. Ask for advice from people who have more experience. And remember, it's okay to make mistakes – just keep learning and growing.