Leadership-Life Fit:Maximize your Time

Befriend, NOT beat, the clock!

Start early!

Schedule yourself for an hour alone each morning by arriving before staff is scheduled to be there; or use your home office space for the first hour of the day.

Set your “To Do” list for the day during this time.

Act now!

Never put off an angry parent. Resolving the issue ASAP

prevents escalation. Rarely does a gap between

the call and your response result in a “cooling off.” More likely, the gap provides time for a hot topic on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks.

Document it!

Log phone calls and visits from parents in a notebook. Include the date, time, issue/concern, and agreed upon actions.

Log phone calls and visits from teachers/staff in another notebook. Include the date, time, issue/concern, and agreed upon actions.

Say why.

Explain your rationale for the decisions you make. Doing so communicates your values and vision and helps to establish predictable boundaries.

Clarity is the antidote to anxiety!!!

Tap into technology.

Certain leadership tasks recur weekly/monthly/annually. Use technology to remind you of such tasks and to record information related to that task so you don’t have to start from scratch.

Once handed, once handled. Deal with email/mail/other

paperwork as it’s handed to you. Answer it File it Delegate it

Designating specific times each day to address emails will help facilitate the once handed, once handled

Manage and delegate.

Ensure your office assistant can write well, relate well to your stakeholders, and is technology savvy and detail-oriented.

Then, use him/her well!! CC on certain emails that he/she can address

on your behalf Share your calendar and have your assistant

schedule you per parameters you set Have your assistant open, sort, and address

mail as appropriate

Stand and meet.

Stand, greet, and meet those with whom you are intending a brief meeting.

Consider a series of standing meetings at faculty and/or administrative meetings.

Find your fit!

Reference

Suggestions adapted from “Beat the Clock.” Principal, March/April 2013.