We need to hit the pause button.
I recently heard a statistic that senior level executives who use smartphones work an average of 70 hours per week. Their productivity, however, has not increased in proportion to the additional time spent working.
Fred Vornbrock, our GM, challenged our senior team to track our time for two weeks. What I discovered was I am averaging 65 hours per week. I then identified other ways I am working, such as when I sneak a glance at email and text messages, or do other work related thinking when I am “off the clock.” Yep, well beyond 70 hours per week. I would not have believed it if I was not challenged to do it. So, what did I learn and what changes am I going to make?
The first thought was to gain prospective. I wondered why I put in so many hours, and I identified that as we’re changing our business strategy to be of greater help to our customers, it is requiring more time and attention than usual right now. The bigger issue then is how I can use my time more efficiently.
I’ve identified some ways all of us might become more efficient:
Group similar activities. Don’t drive three hours for one appointment without having a plan for what else you can do while you are in that area.
Make sure others are job shadowing you so you can provide consistent service to more customers, thereby maximizing your time.
Use the “Do Not Disturb” mode or the “Airplane” mode on your phone. Block all notifications during the workday. When I am working on other projects and in meetings, I use the “Do Not Disturb” mode so I can still use WiFi. My phone is a tool to help me manage my time, not to manage me.
Hit the pause button on life:
Go to lunch and leave your cellphone in your office
Take at least 24 consecutive hours in a week and shut down (weekend planning)
Walk during your break time
Exercise regularly – set an appointment with yourself
Human relations principle: “Rest before you get tired.” ~ Dale Carnegie
John Rodgers