Your Time, Your Future
Thanks to Aron-Visuals

Your Time, Your Future

Your Time, Your Future

I am struck by the number of conversations I have with C Suite executives where they bemoan just how little private time they can find to stand back and think about themselves and their careers. And increasingly as a pressurised executive, it is important to find that extra marginal time so you don’t end up in a position where you are disadvantaged simply as a result of lack of time to think and plan.

The challenge of being a C Suite executive in today’s febrile business world can be an extremely onerous and stress-inducing experience; the demands on your time are numerous. Despite the rewards of a senior position, it can easily soak up any available marginal time for yourself.

But does it have to be like this? Well, tough though it will be to make some changes, there is little doubt that salvation from time encroachment is not only very possible but also with the application of some simple techniques and discipline, can lead to some early improvements. Sadly, of course, there is no single formula that will magically fix the problem. But some carefully chosen and practised behaviours along with a determined shift in attitude can make a big difference very quickly.????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

So what are these practical approaches that can help you grab back some important marginal time to focus more on yourself and thinking about your own future. These are the main successful practices that can be observed in those leaders who regularly create such space for themselves:

·??????Little But Often?- practice a ‘little but often” approach to your own career development and planning. Trying to carve out large chunks of time to devote to yourself during a busy working week is probably doomed to failure given the other demands on your time. Treat career reflection and planning as like going to the gym to get back into shape. Pick a small chunk of time each week and red-ring this time as your own. Pick an issue (just one) that you most want to focus on and give it a whirl.?

·??????Protect Your Time?– adopt the attitude that this protected time cannot and should not be violated by anyone – and this “anyone “should include yourself. Once you are tempted to give this time over to something and someone else you are on the slippery slope of losing control of this valuable marginal time. Importantly take into your confidence anyone around you who has the ability to influence your diary – perhaps an assistant , a number two or a full PA. Seek their help to protect your red -ringed time.?

·??????Create a Career Agenda?– identify the critical questions you most urgently and importantly need and want to answer in your protected time slots so that you create a clear focus for yourself.??A good place to start might be with three very fundamental questions i.e.?

1). What do I really (really) want to do next in my career and my wider life?

2.) What am I really, really good at that makes me stand out and so effective?

3.) What are my very strong preferences about the type of work I value, where I want??to do it and when I think I will be ready to enact my next move. And if you do not intend to plan a move then ask how you can use the additional time created to improve your quality and performance in your current role.

·??????Seek Out Coaching Support?– having an experienced career coach to work with you can help you make efficient use of your time. For a relatively small investment, a coach can act as a mirror to challenge your own thinking and question your assumptions. The coach may also be able to take away time-consuming tasks such as refreshing your CV and LinkedIn Profile to speed up your readiness and support your narrative. And if you are stuck in your thinking about what next, a career coach can help you identify potential options for the future.

·??????Double Down on Delegation?- use the need to create more time for yourself to extend delegation opportunities to other colleagues; the pressure of time on a C Suite Executive can often cause the executive to curtail delegation on the basis that if you want something done to the right standard and to meet a deadline then it is quicker and less risky to do it yourself. This is a wrong-headed strategy as, apart from soaking up lots of your time, you will miss a valuable opportunity to build the capabilities of the people around you. Micro-management is invariably a bad habit and a major reason why executives have little time to focus on their own development issues.

None of the above practices and behaviours are particularly complicated or difficult to enact. So why not give them a try in the interests of freeing up some important marginal time all for yourself and …

If you want to have a conversation re the value of working with a career coach then please just drop me an email and/or …

If you would prefer some self-help guidance to stimulate your thinking in your newly found marginal time, then??please download our recent publication “Navigating Your Future” by following this link?https://www.brosna-consulting.com/products/navigating-your-future-1

Thank you for your attention.

Tim Chapman

Managing Director

Brosna Career Consulting Ltd

[email protected]

October 2022







??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????





要查看或添加评论,请登录

Tim Chapman的更多文章

  • What's Your Tune?

    What's Your Tune?

    Every time I come across a timeless music track (of any age or genre), I am reminded of the power music has to engage…

    5 条评论
  • The First Day of the Rest of Your Life

    The First Day of the Rest of Your Life

    The first couple of weeks in September are often the busiest of the year as people return to their desks after…

    4 条评论
  • What do you want, what do you really, really want?

    What do you want, what do you really, really want?

    Lying in the sun and relaxing during the summer months, is often a really good time to gently ruminate on the important…

  • Tune Up For 2024

    Tune Up For 2024

    As we slide into a much needed holiday break with hopefully a bit of time to rest, enjoy and reflect, maybe its time to…

  • The Great Disappointment

    The Great Disappointment

    Much has been written recently about “The Great Resignation” - the unsettling impact of the pandemic period causing…

  • Interview Gold- leave nothing to chance

    Interview Gold- leave nothing to chance

    Do you have an imminent short-list interview coming up for a job you really, really want ? Are you worried that you…

  • Taking Yourself to Market in 2022?

    Taking Yourself to Market in 2022?

    Ten tips for standing out in your search for a new job in the year ahead With an overcrowded market for new jobs and…

  • Unsettling Times?

    Unsettling Times?

    Are you feeling unsettled in your job right now? Well if so, you are certainly not alone. The global pandemic has…

  • Leave nothing to chance!

    Leave nothing to chance!

    Have you secured a short-list interview for a job you really want? How will you make sure that you come across as the…

  • Think Big, Think Bold

    Think Big, Think Bold

    Some important Questions For You ..

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了