Latest news with #time management
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Get Out Of Your Inbox: Four Tactics To Buy Back Your Time
Ginni Saraswati is an entrepreneur, award-winning media personality, CEO of Ginni Media and cofounder of Metro Podcast Studio. CEOs regularly report that time management is their greatest challenge. Take, for example, email, which can be a time-sucker and not nearly as productive as we think. A 2016 Harvard study found that email usage was regularly to blame for workflow interruptions and extended workdays. In today's hyper-connected business environment, the average executive spends approximately 28% of their workweek managing emails. This digital deluge doesn't just consume time; it fragments attention, disrupts strategic thinking and creates a perpetual cycle of reactivity rather than proactivity. The Email Blackhole How do we get sucked into navigating so much email traffic? One reason is that CEOs are endlessly copied on email threads. Teams often feel email is the easiest way to keep leadership in the loop. Leaders feel pressure to respond because it signals recognition, and ignoring an email can give the impression that they're either ignoring, not reading or being rude. When the majority of issues covered in emails don't directly involve the recipient, it's easy to get drawn into the operational weeds. It should also be noted that bad habits can start from leadership, and emails from the CEO sent at night, on weekends or on holidays can set unhealthy norms and spark a chain of unnecessary communication. From there, it becomes easy for everyone in an organization to fall into bad communication habits. The Myth Of Inbox Zero While productivity gurus champion "inbox zero" as the gold standard, this pursuit often comes at a considerable cost. The relentless pressure to clear the inbox can lead to an unhealthy relationship with work communications and diminished presence in other areas of your business and personal life. This obsession has created unrealistic expectations, making people feel like they're on call both in and outside of the workplace. It's time to start questioning whether this standard really serves us, or if it perpetuates the type of workplace culture that inevitably leads to burnout. Email As A Strategic Tool, Not A Default Channel One critical shift involves recognizing when email is the appropriate medium for communication and when it isn't. We've normalized using email for everything from quick confirmations to delicate negotiations. This creates a mountain of inefficiency, especially when there are simpler ways to handle things. Before starting what might turn into a lengthy email thread, ask yourself, "Is a call better in this case?" The trend to cut back on meetings might also have pushed us too far. We've turned so many meetings into emails that now it's the emails that have become the problem. Some reverse engineering might be in order. It's time to recognize that some email threads could have been a single five-minute meeting instead. Setting Boundaries And Managing Expectations Establishing clear parameters around email availability has become increasingly important. Many executives have found success incorporating status indicators into their email signatures. For example, "I check email twice daily at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For urgent matters, please contact..." However, such boundaries are only effective when consistently enforced. The internal commitment must match the external communication—a disconnect that many leaders struggle with. The real challenge is to honor the boundaries we create for ourselves. Over time, firm boundary habits will stick, sending a message to your team and your personal connections that you mean what you say. Four Practical Tactics For Email Management There are several proven strategies for maintaining control over your inbox, rather than letting it control you: 1. Implement email-free zones. Designate specific times, particularly during high-cognitive performance hours, when email notifications are turned off. 2. Utilize the "NNTR" technique. Adding "no need to reply" to appropriate messages eliminates unnecessary back-and-forth exchanges. 3. Leverage AI and delegation. Digital tools like email assistants can filter, prioritize and even draft responses to routine communications, freeing up time for more strategic tasks. 4. Practice intentional batching. Process emails in dedicated blocks rather than continuous monitoring, allowing for deeper focus during non-email periods. The True Measure Of Success As business pressure mounts and AI capabilities expand, the temptation to remain continuously connected grows stronger. Yet the difference between successful, not-enough-hours-in-the-day executives and truly exceptional leaders with ample downtime often lies in their ability to protect their attention. As Warren Buffett once said, "The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything." The most effective email management strategy is minimizing the inbox's centrality to daily operations. Thinking more strategically about how we communicate allows us to work with more intention, carve out time for rest and reclaim significant portions of the workday for the deep thinking and strategic planning that truly drive business growth. Greater productivity comes not through doing more, but through focusing attention on what genuinely matters. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
You Don't Need More Time: You Need A New Attention Strategy
Hourglass on background with copy space. Why managing time no longer separates good leaders from great ones Senior leaders don't get paid to react faster. They get paid to focus on what matters most. Yet one of the most common complaints I hear in coaching sessions is this: 'If I just had a few more hours in the day…' It's understandable. But misleading. Their calendars are packed with back-to-back meetings, Slack pings, and well-intentioned priorities that never quite get done. Even highly disciplined executives feel stuck in reactive loops. Strategy gets squeezed into the margins. But time isn't the real issue. Attention is. The core problem: focus failure, not time scarcity Most senior leaders don't suffer from poor time management. They suffer from distraction management. Traditional tools like calendars, task lists, and time-blocking, were built for a more predictable era. Today, interruptions are constant, and most workdays derail before the first cup of coffee is finished. Leaders stay in motion but feel out of control. This isn't a discipline problem. It's a lack of structure for deciding what truly deserves focused attention. That gap has real costs. When your attention is scattered, your highest-value work—the work only you can do—gets deferred, diluted, or dropped. Meanwhile, teams wait for direction, priorities blur, and long-term goals stagnate under the weight of daily noise. From time blocks to attention zones To break the cycle, leaders must shift from managing time to managing attention. That shift starts with recognizing that not all activities are created equal. Some generate momentum. Others quietly drain it. In coaching, I help clients classify their daily activities into four zones: Instead of asking, 'What do I have time for?' the better question is: The cost of misallocated attention Misallocated attention leads to strategic drift. It also leads to burnout. When leaders give their best energy to low-leverage work, they deplete their capacity without making meaningful progress. The result is a slow, quiet exhaustion that can't be cured by a weekend off. It also sends a message. When leaders say strategy matters but spend their days reacting, their teams notice. Forward thinking slows. Innovation stalls. Standards subtly shift. Attention isn't just a personal resource. It's a cultural signal. A tactical reset: three habits that change the game Changing your attention strategy doesn't require an overhaul. It starts with a few small shifts, practiced consistently: These aren't productivity hacks. They're leadership practices. Think like a steward, not a survivor You can't control how many demands come your way. But you can control how you respond. Reclaiming your attention is a leadership act. The best leaders don't wait for quiet weeks to think clearly. They design their weeks to make space for what matters most. They act like stewards of their focus—not victims of their calendars. You don't need more hours in the day. You need to take back the ones that already belong to you.
The Sun
5 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Ten things Brits hate about adulting the most from constant cleaning to overspending at the shops, survey reveals
BRITS have revealed the worst things about 'adulting' – with constantly cleaning, the mental load - and never having time for anything at the top of the list. A poll of 2,000 Brits found 19 per cent bemoaned struggling with mysterious joint pain for seemingly no reason. 1 While nearly a tenth (eight per cent) get wound up trying to remember every single password they've ever created. It also emerged 78 per cent feel there are simply not enough hours in the day, rising to 90 per cent for Millennials. With the average adult spending 364 hours a year simply making dinner - 2.6 years of their lives in total. As a result, 80 per cent of 29-44-year-olds claim just one extra hour a day would vastly improve their mood. A spokesperson for meal prep company Frive, which commissioned the research, said: "People feel like passengers in their own lives. 'Many of us grow up thinking that once we reach a certain age, everything will click into place - but the truth is, being an adult comes with a steep learning curve that no one really prepares you for.' Other things respondents hate about being an adult included feeling there was no one to take care of them (16 per cent). While 13 per cent are often left frustrated by going to the shop for one thing - and somehow ending up spending £40. But having to 'adult' has left 63 per cent of time-poor Millennials unable to do any of the things they really want to do - namely relaxing (58 per cent). As 56 per cent admitted 'adulting' was harder than they expected it to be. I'm a cleaning whizz, using a 15p household item will make your tap shine in minutes And 73 per cent think cooking from scratch each night is an absolute chore, leading a third of them to use a meal prep service. Frive's spokesperson added: 'Modern life has shifted the goalposts, too. 'With the rising cost of living, an unpredictable housing market, and digital overload, the expectations placed on adults today are higher than ever. 'Yet we're still expected to juggle it all with a smile – even when it feels like we're just winging it. 'If we can give them back an hour, with healthy, natural fully prepared meals, that's an act of care.'
Fast Company
12-07-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Why setting boundaries makes you more valuable at work
Here's a truth that will challenge everything you think you know about success: The most impactful leaders are also the most vigilant about protecting their time. While everyone else is drowning in back-to-back meetings and late-night email marathons, these executives have mastered the art of harmonious integration, strategically aligning their energy with what truly matters while gracefully declining what doesn't serve their highest contribution. In my coaching practice, I've been tracking this phenomenon with 47 C-suite executives over the past two years. Those who consistently hold firm boundaries around their availability aren't just happier, they're advancing faster. This isn't about achieving perfect work-life balance, because—let's be honest—that mythical equilibrium rarely exists. Instead, it's about making conscious choices about where you invest your most precious resource: your attention. The data behind strategic boundaries The data backs this up in ways that should make every ambitious professional pay attention. Gallup's State of the Global Workplace report revealed that 'global employee engagement declined to just 21% in 2024, with managers experiencing the largest drop.' Additionally, the report found, disengagement cost the global economy $438 billion in 2024. But here's where it gets interesting: According to a Slack State of Work report, 67% of workers believe that having predictable blocks of time when everyone is disconnected would improve their productivity. Take Sarah, a VP at a major tech company who stopped responding to emails after 7 p.m. and started declining meetings that didn't align with her quarterly priorities. Her manager's reaction wasn't frustration, it was relief. 'Finally,' he told her, 'someone who knows what they're worth.' She was promoted within six months. This isn't an anomaly. It's a pattern that reveals something profound about how value is perceived in the modern workplace. Strategic thinking over heroic effort Here's what most professionals get wrong: They think being available equals being valuable. But in a world where 48% of employees report being productive less than 75% of the time, what's scarce—and therefore valuable—is focused, strategic thinking. Four-day workweek trials have shown 20% productivity improvements, proving that working smarter consistently beats working longer. When you protect your energy for high-impact work, people notice. When you're selective about your yes, your contributions carry exponentially more weight. Consider this: In Slack's State of Work report, 77% of those surveyed said that the ability to automate routine tasks would boost productivity. The same report found that workers who did use automation saved 3.6 hours weekly. The leaders who are thriving aren't just automating tasks, they're automating their decision-making about what deserves their attention. They've created systematic boundaries that filter out the noise so they can focus on what moves the needle. The strategic 'no' framework Effective boundary setting isn't about being difficult; it's about being deliberate. The highest performers I work with use what I call the 'Strategic 'No' Framework.' Alignment Over Availability: Before saying yes to any request, they ask: Does this align with my top three priorities this quarter? If the answer is no, they offer alternatives or decline politely but firmly. Value-Based Scheduling: They block calendar time for deep work and treat it as sacred as any client meeting. This isn't selfishness—it's strategic resource management. Communication Clarity: They set explicit expectations about response times and availability. Instead of being reactive, they proactively communicate their boundaries, which actually increases trust and respect. When you evaluate opportunities through these lenses, saying no becomes easier, not because you're being difficult, but because you're being deliberate about creating harmony at work. The most successful executives have mastered the art of saying no without saying no. Instead of 'I can't take on that project,' they say, 'To give this the attention it deserves, I'd need to shift priorities. Which of my current commitments should I deprioritize?' This language does something powerful: It positions them as strategic thinkers who understand resource allocation, not as people trying to avoid work. Why this matters now We're at a pivotal moment in workplace culture: 82% of workers say feeling happy and engaged at work is key to their productivity. However, engagement continues to plummet. The old model of proving dedication through hours logged is not only outdated, it's counterproductive. Smart organizations are recognizing that their most valuable employees aren't the ones who say yes to everything, they're the ones who say yes to the right things. They're looking for people who can cut through the noise, focus on strategic priorities, and deliver exceptional results rather than just exceptional effort. The leaders who understand this are advancing in their careers and redefining what leadership looks like in the modern workplace. They're proving that in a world obsessed with productivity, the most productive thing you can do is be intentional about where you direct your attention. The boundary advantage When you protect your time and energy for high-impact activities, you perform better and you become more valuable. You shift from being seen as a worker to being seen as a strategic asset who understands how to integrate all aspects of life into a coherent, powerful whole. The question isn't whether you can afford to set boundaries. In today's economy of attention, the question is whether you can afford not to make conscious choices about where you invest your energy.
