Ever start your day thinking, I’m going to sit down and figure out exactly what I need to do today?
And then the phone rings, or someone knocks on your office door. You get busy and never get back to that good intention. You come to the end of the day, and wonder, what just happened?
The process of creating a schedule that really works for you is a challenge for most people.
Sure, it’s easy to create a schedule around reacting to other people’s requests for your time: meetings, responding to emails, talking to people who appear at your door or call on the phone.
That creates a situation where your schedule is leading you.
There is an alternative: what if you were to lead your own schedule?
Creating a schedule where you are the leader depends on a focus on your priorities.
The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities, as Stephen Covey once put it.
So, the first step in creating a schedule that is based on your priorities is to get clear on what those are.
Many people will tell you that goals are what should direct your time and your schedule. And that works, up to a point.
Goals are what arise out of priorities – they are the next step. Priorities are powerful because if you can define your priorities, you are creating a higher level view of your business. It’s the difference between a recipe (goals), which can be limited, and a framework (priorities), which is flexible and allows you to respond to fit any situation.
Getting clear on those priorities is a worthwhile and in-depth process that I do with my Work Alchemy coaching program clients early on. You can make a start on that process by starting with these simple first steps:
1. Why did you choose the business you chose to create, or are considering creating? What is it about that particular business that is compelling for you? The answers start to give you insight into your Purpose, your BIG WHY.
2. What characterizes your business? How are you choosing to conduct that business? One example is authenticity. This HOW is what makes you and your business unique, sets you apart, and provides value to your clients.
3. Why are those aspects important to you? If you find that any aren’t really that important, strike them off your list. What remains are your priorities.
Want to bump things up a notch further?
You can get more clarity on your priorities by defining what a great work day looks like. I want to help! So I offer a free guide at WorkAlchemy.com to discover what constitutes your best day at work. Those days add up to your work life, so knowing what makes your days great will help define your priorities.
Once you’ve started to get a handle on your priorities, you’re ready to really put them to use in your schedule.
Get in the habit of looking at your main priorities at least every week. Then and only then, schedule your week.
The next powerful boost you can add to your schedule mojo is to decide on your next day’s plans at the end of the day before. Then go ahead and lay out what you need to do at least the first three things on your list, e.g., papers, phone numbers you’re going to call.
That practice opens up time in the morning, when you start your work day, to get right into completing your most important work, instead of spending time getting organized. So, by mid-morning, you’re already ahead of most people who are just getting organized to start the day.
An added benefit of this habit is that it creates a space for you in your mind wanderings of the evening and in sleep to find solutions, identify next steps, and open to new possibilities.
Your schedule is your tool, not the other way around.
By allowing your priorities to guide that process, you create a schedule that serves you and your business.
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Everyone’s had schedule issues at some point – share what you’ve struggled with, and what works for you! I’d love to hear from you!