You’re an account manager with a full plate. How can you avoid being overworked and overwhelmed?

Prioritizing is crucial in all activities. However, in a front-facing job, it can be challenging as customers often prefer round-the-clock assistance. Therefore, I recommend establishing clear administrative windows. During these times, activate the voicemail and avoid distractions such as social media or the internet. Instead, follow the Pomodoro Technique, working concentratedly for 4 sessions of 25 minutes each with 5-10 minute breaks in between for surfing or social media. Set a timer. After this administrative break, check the voicemail and continue working at the front. Good luck!

Being an account manager with a full plate can be demanding, but adopting proactive strategies can help you avoid being overworked and overwhelmed. Prioritizing tasks, effective time management, clear communication, and self-care are all crucial elements in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. By incorporating these strategies into your routine, you can enhance your efficiency, reduce stress, and successfully navigate the complexities of account management. Remember, finding the right balance is an ongoing process that requires continuous evaluation and adaptation to the evolving demands of your role.

Real-ness: 75% of your tasks on any given day will sit in the URGENT quadrant. Tips: Take it one day at a time. Pick one task for the day. Where you can, clear your diary and give yourself the headspace to complete them without distractions. You might complete 2 if you're lucky! For the remaining urgent tasks? As I said, take a day at a time. More "urgent" tasks will come. No point stressing about it. Spare time? Find me an AM with this thing called "spare time".

The ABCDE method is great for prioritising your workload:: A = very important. Don't have anymore than 3 'A, tasks per day. 'A' tasks an be labelled A1 - A3 with A1 being the most important. B = Less important tasks. No major consequence if you don't complete. C = Nice to have. No consequences if you do not complete. D = Can delegate. E - Can be eliminated. Prioritise first thing in the morning whilst you are free from distractions and aim to get your most important tasks done first.

Avoiding overworked involves strategic time management. Prioritize tasks, set realistic goals, and sharing responsibilities ensures a manageable workload. Inorder to achieve efficiency, adopt time-blocking techniques, take regular breaks inorder to maintain focus. Establishing clear boundaries regarding working hours & communicating expectations effectively. Continuous learning about productivity tools and techniques is essential. Regularly check in with your team, seek support when needed, and prioritize self-care to sustain physical and mental well-being. This proactive and balanced approach ensures that you can handle your responsibilities effectively without succumbing to overwork.

Very importantly, learn to say NO gracefully. For instance, 'I'd be happy to come to you tomorrow as I'm fully booked for the day.' Or to the boss: 'To ensure I come back motivated and well-rested tomorrow, I'll schedule additional appointments for the next few days and head home now.' A definite no-go is complaining about having too much work or accusing others of not contributing, especially not in front of the customers.

Client with ZERO respect for boundaries and no Service Level Agreement: Client request received 10pm, via WhatsApp. Deadline tomorrow before lunch. Burnt-out AM: We have full day of meetings tomorrow and still working on XYZ project you requested. Can I send EOP tomorrow? Client: No. This is more urgent. AM: *sigh* Client with Service Level Agreement: Client request received 9am via email. Happy and content AM: Thank you for sharing, I will complete by Friday as agreed. Client: Thanks so much. Spk then! Tip: Have SLAs. Respect them. Honour them. Share them. Review and adjust where needed.

Benefit from new tools and seek support. Have a conversation with your IT department to discuss your needs. Office 365 offers numerous practical solutions; you'll be surprised, and your customers will be impressed. Your presence at the front is irreplaceable by machines, but administrative tasks in the background can be automated, giving you more time on the front lines and leading to greater success.

Yes! Definitely AUTOMATE! Research the tools already available to you, to see if it actually helps/ works (coz one tool doesn't work for all, sadly) Lots of free tools to explore, if there's no budget...and if you need to build your own business case to justify? Find an influential senior person. Maybe one for the "spare time" ??

We are account manager so we manage the account but outsource the actual work. The mentioned CRM will be a great help. Often, we account managers are too caught up doing the actual work ourselves.

I recommend utilizing your calendar to block out times for responding to emails. Schedule time at the end of the day to prepare for the next day. Set yourself as away on your internal messaging when accomplishing high-priority tasks such as proposal creation or deal closing. I also block out time every day for my lunch break. My work-life balance is key to preventing burnout.

Taking a moment each evening to reflect on what went well creates positive vibes. Sometimes, it's the little things that make a big impact. Consider three positive experiences or achievements each day and relive them. This enhances resilience. Discussing this with your surroundings will also earn you praise. What could be more beautiful? In addition, engaging in sports – including walks – is a true elixir.

What's a hobby? Does Netflix count? In all real-ness, just go home/ log off on time. Mute your notifications. Take a walk (to the toilet, getting lunch or to the coffee machine doesn't count!), like outdoors, with no agenda. Talk to people, again, with no real agenda other than just to say "hi". Make a kind gesture to a colleague: such as a compliment, offer them a drink, or a snack.

Be open to external input before feeling criticized. Take the initiative and seek feedback. Provide positive feedback to your colleagues as well, and you'll notice the culture gradually changing. A constructive exchange takes place, benefiting all parties involved. Be curious and show interest in innovations; it makes you strong and attractive.

- Minimise the number of communication mediums used. Instant chat and mobile devices will NOT help people suffering with overwhelm. Choose your poison, let everyone know that's how they can reach you and when. - Block out your calendar to actually do work or take breaks...and STICK to it (note: harder said than done) - Find this "hobby" thing.

I actually write down what’s “on my plate” when I feel I have too much going on. I draw a big cute round plate on a piece of paper and clear my mind of everything. When I’m done, I take a moment to take in how heavy and full that plate is. How is it ending up over flowing like that and what can be parked, delegated, the nice to dos vs the should / must / could… turn it into a more “easy to digest” meal. When I really then need to focus on certain priorities, I write down a todo list of one task so I can focus on completing that before starting anything else (or if I’m interrupted, what to come back to asap).

I lead a team of Account Managers who each manage in the range of 300 accounts and multiple millions of dollars of business. I take it as my responsibility as their manager and leader to support them and provide a positive and constructive environment for them. When you show that your team matters to you, that you value their talents and experience, and that you will help them succeed, it increases their ability to face challenges and manage stress. Sometimes it is easier to understand and navigate a challenging negotiation or client interaction when you are one step removed. I love to coach my team through negotiations, and if needed join them at the table. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your team succeed in their work.

Learn how to say no. When you are ambitious and eager to impress it can be tempting to say yes to every request. But this will ultimately lead to you becoming overburdened, missing deadlines, or not doing your best work. There is a right way to say 'no' to work, and I would recommend learning and practising some techniques. Additionally, if you are in a senior position, learning to delegate is an absolute essential skill, but again, requires practice to ensure it is done correctly.