Balance and Productivity in Leadership

52 Solutions for Those Who Need a 25 Hour Day

I created this resource for clients. I've learned that achieving and maintaining both balance and productivity in leadership - at the same time - is important to them.

I remember reading of a World Health Organization study, noting those who have a balanced personal and work life tend to be 23% more productive. 

If you and your team were 23% more productive, what could that achieve in the next year?

Below is a self-paced resource called 52 Solutions for Those Who Need a 25 Hour Day.

Use the “five-day” self-guided coaching format to help you get back control of your priorities so you can thrive as a leader.

Instructions on Using the 52 Solutions Guide

To benefit from this guide you have to be intentional. Just reading it won't do you any good. Applying even one of the practices will. 

For every practice you feel is important to you RIGHT NOW, you will find five days of self-coaching exercises.

Pick one practice that seems most relevant to your situation and begin working on it. Work on it until it becomes a habit. 

Small wins add up. They will help you to avoid burnout. And, they will reintroduce balance and productivity in leadership in a fresh way.

Keep in mind,

• It's not "the law" -  "You shall do these 52 practices." (You won't.)

• It is "grace" -  "IF you introduce and practice even a handful of these practices, you will reduce stress and increase effectiveness." 

* Numbers in brackets below refer to the order of the practices in the originally published book, and serve to keep me organized when I'm referring to them.  

---

52 Solutions for Those Who Need a 25 Hour Day

Get Clarity - Know What's Needed to Reach Your Desired Outcomes

1. Prepare For Meetings - If you really want to contribute and make a difference prepare for meetings. (8)

2. Speak with Clarity - Learn to communicate more clearly so everyone is on the same page. (10)

3. Stop Making Assumption, Know the Facts - Make less assumptions and use reliable sources to find the facts. (12)

4. Eliminate Scraps of Paper - Start organizing work notes and eliminate scraps of paper. (29)

5. If it's Not an Absolute Yes, it's a No - Be more decisive and let yes be yes, and no be no. (31)

6. Explore Time, Energy, and Priority Management Strategies - Always too many things to do? Start with just one strategy and use it. (35)

7. Break it Down into Parts - Avoid overwhelm by breaking down big tasks into smaller doable parts. (38)

8. Do it, Ditch it, Delegate it or Delay it  - Four quick actions to improve time management skills. (40)

9. STOP - If the "wheels are coming off" don't keep going. Stop and figure your situation out. (44)

10. Create a Not-to-Do List - Make a not-to-do list to rigorously avoid getting distracted from priorities. (50)

11. Balance Simplicity and Complexity - Find that effective point between keeping it simple and not missing anything. (52)

---

Take Ownership - Be Decisive and Approach What Needs to be Done With a Positive Attitude

1. Plan Your Day - Take the time to plan your day to achieve the most important tasks. (2)

2. Say “No” A Whole Lot More - To lead effectively you must set boundaries. And saying "no" is part of that. (6)

3. Be Accountable - Adopt accountability as a core value of your leadership. (7)

4. Prepare for People Who Don't Understand - Remember, there will be people who do not get it, maybe for quite awhile, or never. (17)

5. Don't Manage Your Image for Others - Stop trying to manage your image and perform for others. (20)

6. Focus on One Person at a Time - Treat each individual in the workplace with respect and the attention they deserve. (25)

7. Take Responsibility and Deal with Things as They Come Up - Be a respected leader. Take responsibility for your actions. (27)

8. Embrace Failure - Failing is important because a leader can learn from it and create growth. (33)

9. Make the Tough Decisions - Address what's causing your delay and make the hard leadership decisions. (36)

10. Create Space Between Meetings - Plan how to use your time between meetings and events. (48)

---

Create Structure - Put in Place an Environment that Will Support Reaching the Desired Outcome

1. Use the 80/20 Principle - See how you can apply the 80/20 Rule to manage your leadership decisions. (1) 

2. Harness the Power of Three - Get more important things done in a week by using the Power of Three. (4)

3. Capture Your Thoughts - Immediately write down things you want to remember so you don't lose them forever. (5)

4. Work with a Great Team  - Find the right people and work together as a coordinated, focused team. (16)

5. Avoid Using the Word “Should” - Reduce using the word "should" and stop procrastinating. (23)

6. Cultivate Good Friendships - Find out what makes a quality friendship and be that friend. Leaders need real friends. (24)

7. Change Pace - Change pace to better manage your energy throughout the day. (26)

8. Group Lesser and Like Tasks - To be more productive in your work, group lesser and like tasks. (34)

9. Make a Strategic Alliance - If appropriate, find a strategic alliance that benefits both organizations. (45)

10. Organize Your Files - Organize your files to work more effectively and have less stress. (47)

---

Maintain Momentum - Sustain Forward Movement and Adjust for Improvement

1. Conquer Your To-Do List - Create a purposeful to-do list that lets you know what's next. (3)

2. Plan Time for Renewal - Be a wise leader and take a break from work to recharge. (9)

3. Create a Shield to Guard Your Time - Eliminate or minimize time wasters at work. (11)

4. Persevere - Don't give up, but persevere to keep going and finish well. (13)

5. Give Yourself Time to Think, Schedule a Quiet Time - Be a better leader by giving yourself a dedicated time to think. (19)

6. Reject Busyness as a Bragging Point - Reject busy bragging and just get good things done. (21)

7. Handle Things the Least Amount of Times Possible  - As a leader, handle things the least amount of times possible. Touch it once. (30)

8. Just Do it Now - If you can realistically do it now and get it done, then start. (32)

9. Work with a Coach - Work with a professional executive Coach to do even better with less stress. (37)

10. Celebrate Individual Steps - Acknowledge project milestones and a job well done. (42)

11. Accomplish More While Traveling - Without forgetting rest, manage your time while travelling for work. (49)

---

Define & Achieve Outcomes - Know What Matters and Where You Are Going, Then Get There 

1. Adequately Fund Your Project - Control your finances to fund your leadership priorities. (14)

2. Relieve Yourself of Other Responsibilities - Be a more focused leader by simplifying where you can. (15) 

3. Let Your Purpose Determine Your Schedule - Fine your purpose and let it Largely drive your schedule. (18)

4. Enjoy the Journey  - Be a leader who has a positive attitude that inspires others. (22)

5. Focus on the Goal, Not the Clock - Stop fretting about the hours, and focus on the important goal. (28)

6. Get Your Finances in Order - Relieve stress by concentrating on getting personal finances in good shape. (39)

7. Build Character  - Build character by being a leader who holds to the importance of integrity in all areas of life. (41)

8. Practice Time In, Time On and Time Out  - Don't trend to mediocrity. Dedicate time and effort to making the actual organization better. (43)

9. Plan for the Unexpected - Create a plan to deal with the unexpected when it happens. It will. (46)

10. Distinguish Between Needs and Wants - Distinguish between, "do you need it," or "do you want it." Does it matter? (51)

---

The Entire 52 Solutions in Their Original Book Order with Shorter Titles

1.  Use the 80/20 Principle
2.  Plan Your Day 
3.  Conquer Your To-Do List 
4.  Harness the Power of Three 
5.  Capture Your Thoughts 
6.  Say “No” A Whole Lot More 
7.  Be Accountable 
8.  Prepare for Meetings 
9.  Plan Time for Renewal 
10.  Speak with Clarity 
11.  Create a Shield to Guard Your Time 
12.  Stop Making Assumptions. Know the Facts 
13.  Persevere 
14.  Adequately Fund Your Project 
15.  Relieve Yourself of Other Responsibilities 
16.  Work with a Great Team 
17.  Prepare for People Who Don't Understand 
18.  Let Your Purpose Determine Your Schedule 
19.  Give Yourself Time to Think, Schedule a Quiet Time
20.  Don't Manage Your Image for Others 
21.  Reject Busyness as a Bragging Point 
22.  Enjoy the Journey 
23.  Avoid Using the Word “Should” 
24.  Cultivate Good Friendships 
25.  Focus on One Person at a Time 
26.  Change Pace 
27.  Take Responsibility and Deal with Things as They Come Up 
28.  Focus on the Goal, Not the Clock
29.  Eliminate Scraps of Paper 
30.  Handle Things the Least Amount of Times Possible 
31.  If it's Not an Absolute Yes, it's a No 
32.  Just Do it Now 
33.  Embrace Failure 
34.  Group Lesser and Like Tasks 
35.  Read Books on Time Management Strategies
36.  Make the Tough Decisions 
37.  Work with a Coach 
38.  Break it Down into Parts 
39.  Get Your Finances in Order 
40.  Do it, Ditch it, Delegate it or Delay it 
41.  Build Character 
42.  Celebrate Individual Steps 
43.  Practice Time In, Time On and Time Out 
44.  STOP 
45.  Make a Strategic Alliance 
46.  Plan for the Unexpected 
47.  Organize Your Files 
48.  Create Space Between Meetings 
49.  Accomplish More While Traveling 
50.  Create a Not-to-Do List 
51.  Distinguish Between Needs and Wants 
52.  Balance Simplicity and Complexity

These are from my book, 52 Solutions for Those Who Need a 25 Hour Day. You don't need to buy the book. It's all here, and more. You can regain balance and productivity in leadership. 

Special thanks to Sandi Martin, who helped above and beyond with the original book. Sandi is an Advice-only Financial Planner and Retirement Income Expert who helps Canadians who have better things to do than worry about money. 

---

Wondering Where to Start? Assess Your Balance and Productivity in Leadership 

Go here to answer some simple questions to determine which habits to consider making a part of your personal leadership development plan. 

You want to focus your improvement efforts in the right direction.

Helpful Ways to Use this Personal Development Plan Guide

No matter what you feel you need to work on to regain balance and productivity in leadership, practicing the basics is a must. 

This is a self-paced, self-coaching “program” about everyday habits, the ones you might have drifted away from. If applied, they will help you in regaining balance and productivity in leadership. This isn't about speed or brilliance. It's about regaining control of YOUR time, energy and confidence.

Reducing stress by creating some easy-to-do wins in your workday will create space to work on solutions to those “larger” things that contribute to overload and burnout. This won’t solve burnout by itself. But it is one part of the equation. 

Paying attention to a small number of basic things that made you successful in the first place will help regain focus, confidence and control, and set you up for greater wins. It will contribute to regaining or enhancing balance and productivity for leaders. 

Pick and Choose Habits that are Most Important to You Right Now

Work at your own pace on putting simple strategies back in place that will help you regain efficient, productive and effective work patterns.

Regaining even a few good practices of balance and productivity in leadership will reduce stress and bring the satisfaction of creating some meaningful wins, when having a win is a real boost.

The list above isn't a fancy time management system. It's a list of everyday habits that leaders, executives and professionals who want to do well, put into practice each and every day.

Simple Practices for Avoiding Burnout and Improving Leadership Effectiveness 

You may have gotten away from some (or many) of these practices. And, while it is not the key source of your stress, it is a contributing factor. I've found that paying attention to things that ARE within your control, plays a big role in rebuilding hope and resilience.

Every one of these habits or strategies come right out of my work with clients over the past many years of executive and leadership performance coaching.

This structure will provide you a different area to work on, on a regular basis. A small change in one area can result in significant positive change across a broad range of life and leadership areas.

Regaining balance and productivity in leadership isn't mythical. It's deliberate and achievable. 

Frequently Asked Questions

When it comes to finding balance and productivity in leadership, where do I start?

• These 52 practices are able to be followed in any order. They do not follow in sequence. You start where you feel the need. If it's more balance that you need, look for "balance" habits. If it's more productivity that you need at the moment, look for "productivity" sounding habits. For more help, read above, "Wondering Where to Start."

Why are the basic productivity habits so important?

• Because if you can  take care of the basics, you will be more efficient and effective in your work.
• Because I suspect you if you can handle the basics, you are in a position to handle bigger things. Others might notice this too. 
• Because others watch you. They respect a leader who "has it together." 

Does self-coaching work, or would I be better one on one coaching with you? 

• If you follow the self-coaching guides with intention and some discipline, you'll enjoy good results. Do that first and see what happens.

When will I know I've succeeded? 

• When it's a habit. These basic productivity skills aren't rocket science. You can do it. When you don't have to think about the habit any more, but keep experiencing consistent success, then you've "got it." Congratulations!

Recap

• Be intentional about your improvement as a leader and contributor
• Pick one practice, reflect on it, study it, and apply it. Do the five days of coaching (use as many days as you need) to incorporate it into your routine. 
• Make sure that practice becomes an everyday habit.
• Pick another practice and repeat.
• Use these 52 practices over and over again. They will contribute to your success as a leader and high-value contributor.
• Encourage your team to choose one practice and act on it.