What if you aligned your daily schedule and activities with your “work rhythm” — the time you are most engaged and productive?
Honestly, a 9-to-5 schedule never felt like a great fit for me, but I had to make it work. As an executive coach, I help women professionals and business owners tune into their own “work rhythm” and that of their employees. Let’s look at two categories to help you get started:
FOR YOURSELF:
• Pay attention to when you are most engaged and productive. I’m an early-morning person, so detailed or creative thinking usually happens in my early hours.
• Stop apologizing for not being available when it is time to get your best work done. I simply learned to block the time as “unavailable” and didn’t take meetings unless they were necessary.
• End the practice of scheduling hourlong meetings whenever you can. I began by shaving time in 15-minute increments, starting with 45-minute meetings before going to 30-minute meetings. With a plan and/or an agenda – I learned how to get it done.
• Train others how to effectively interact with you and learn how to interact with them. I communicated my preference for efficient and outcome-based meetings, and others stepped up.
• Take time for self-care. When you feel overwhelmed with something difficult, get up and move around to clear your head. Adopting this practice helped me approach things with new energy and a clearer mind – and that’s when solutions came.
FOR YOUR TEAM:
• Make your expectations and deadlines clear by communicating upfront. Don’t leave others guessing about what you want.
• Set “core hours” when everyone should be available for group collaboration, but leave the rest to your team members.
• Hold them accountable for production, results and outcomes. Make it less about their visibility or personality and more about their work product and results.
• Recognize that this type of environment can allow those who are introverted to work with less pressure, but they can feel further disengaged. Conversely, it can leave your extroverts feeling a bit isolated and with fewer opportunities for recognition and feedback. Work to strike a balance.
What will you do to create a positive “work rhythm” for yourself and your team? The best way to make progress is to simply start.
