How many times have you heard yourself saying these words: “If only there were more hours in the day…” “If I just had one more day…” “I could do it, if I only had more time.”

If only there was more time, we would all be farther along in our businesses or careers, have all our personal projects finished or well under way, and still be able to be around those we love… because there would be time. Right?

Well, how many times have you also found yourself in this situation:

You walk into work Monday morning, determined that today is the day that you will get ahead on your tasks. You sit down at your desk and begin, only to be interrupted moments later by something that was supposed to be done days ago.

Then, later you are interrupted again by one of your team members with an issue they want your direction on. Then again with several questions from another team member.

Before you know it, it’s time to go home. You are tired; you are a little unsure of where all your time went; but you are positive that tomorrow is the day you will get ahead on all your tasks…

Is it really more time that you need?

Sadly enough, time is the only thing we cannot earn or save up. Money can be recouped; energy can be replenished; and we can improve our ideas by learning… but time poorly spent is gone forever.

That is the bad news…

…but don’t worry – where there is bad news, there is good news! And here, the good news is that there is a way we can get better at using the time we have.

Coach and speaker Jamie Cornell has said, “Time cannot and will not be managed, and you will never get more of it. The problem is rooted in the choices you are making with others and your own choices. You choose how to use it every moment of every day…”

Consider this: we wish for more time, but the way that many leaders make their choices, they would not get more done even if they had it.

The value, production, and efficiency we are after are in the choices more than they are in the time. When we choose better, we multiply the value of our time.

Here are a few strategies you can implement to do just that:

1. The Pareto Principle

You have definitely heard of this principle – it is also called the 80/20 rule. It tells us that 80% of our results come from 20% of our tasks, and vice versa. This is true of many other things, as well – 80% of the work is done by 20% of your team, 80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients, and so on.

The key is noting which activities, opportunities, and players produce the most and investing more in them. For example, find your top-performing staff, spend 80% of your dedicated time with them, and invest 80% of your development budget on them.

2. The 3Rs

These three questions help you get a clearer picture of what you should prioritize.

What’s required of me?

What are the things that only you can do for your organization or your team? What are the things that you absolutely cannot delegate? Where are you irreplaceable? You must do these things.

What gives me my greatest return?

Where is your time best spent, based on your unique skills? Where are you in your element? Do these things as often as you can.

What is most rewarding?

What refreshes you? What gives you the strength to do the other important things? Make time for these things.

And speaking of making time…

3. Margin space

You cannot fill 100% of your time. Well, you can – but you cannot flourish with 100% of your time accounted for.

Growth doesn’t happen in action, but in reflection.

We need to pause for breath just to stay sane. That is not only true of leaders – it is true of people, period. Give yourself 20% “white space” to recoup.

This week, try to implement one of these strategies and see how much time you can regain. And with some of the time that you save, send me an email to let me know how it helped :)

That’s all for now.

Until next time,

Florin