While the number of hours are the same for all of us, some manage their precious time much better than others.
In this post Robin Morgan shares four behaviors which successful time managers typically master. Time management, for non-profit leaders, is as much about looking in the mirror as looking at one’s watch.
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Robin Morgan
Executive Directors are the face of the non-profit organizations they lead. They have a vast number of irons in the fire at any given time. For these reasons, it can be very hard to manage one’s time. However, while very difficult at times, managing one’s time is doable. Those that are the best managers of time exhibit, I’ve observed, the following 4 behaviors.
If a leader demonstrates all of them, they will be able to be an exceptional time manager. Those that exhibit none of them will be fighting time management battles more often than they need to.
- They have a self awareness of their own skills and strengths. Beyond the tasks that only they can do, leaders who are self aware know which tasks can potentially be delegated to others on their team. While self awareness is important, an Executive Director (ED) will on some days have to roll up their sleeves to keep the organization running.
- They have a solid understanding of what each person on the organization’s staff can do well. Ideally, everyone in the non-profit is working most of the time doing things they do best. People are rarely asked to do things which they do poorly. As well, the leader strives to make available the tools and technologies which allow work to be done efficiently and effectively. Having the right people with the wrong tools isn’t a strategy for success.
- They have a keen sense of what is truly important to the organization, in the upcoming days and in the long run. Assuming the leader’s organization is fully staffed, the non-profit will be positioned to thrive – if properly led. Knowing what is important, the successful ED strives to give top priority to highly-important and urgent tasks. Simply keeping one’s focus on ‘putting out fires’ (i.e. urgent tasks) is avoided.
- They are willing and able to delegate to others, where appropriate, without hesitation. Two things are signs that a leader is a poor delegator: Being a micromanager; holding on to things too long (a reluctance to delegate or prioritize).
- Frankly I’ve observed a few Executive Directors who desire to control everything that goes on within the organization they manage. Guess what happens? They do a little bit of everything, but can’t be successful in doing much of anything.
- As well, some leaders hold on to some things too long; some tasks, therefore, are overlooked or get done late. The consequence of this, where funding-related deadlines are missed, is that money due the organization is put in jeopardy. In these situations, lost time can result in lost money.
LEARN
1. It has been said on this blog before, but it bears repeating: Know who you are. No matter what you do, don’t lie to yourself. Knowing who you are means you sense what you can do well and, as well, what is better done by others. As Robin Morgan expressed above, being self-aware is vitally important to a non-profit leader who wants to have a victorious journey.
2. Having the ability to discern and identify the abilities within your staff (Talent assessment)
3. As covered in a previous post, Time Management: My Non-profit Journey, understand how to define your time. ”Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
4. A critical part of time management is your Self-esteem. What? Read the GROW section to understand why.
GROW
Successful time management is linked very closely to your Self-esteem. We’ll understand if you find it odd to associate high self-esteem with highly effective time management. We did too, at first.
- Question: Are you truly comfortable in your own skin?
One would never think that how you see yourself would affect their time management. Yet, if you read closely what Robin Morgan expressed in the Share section above, it’s a very reasonable thought for one to have. Being self-aware, not being a micro-manager, being able to delegate, and not being a control freak are the behaviors which Morgan feels boost one’s time management prowess. She’s right.
People that are comfortable in their own skin have the potential to be great time managers too. Two things to keep in mind:
- Be self-aware. I can be honest with myself, my employees, and my clients because I don’t feel the need to be great at everything. I know my value. I have no fear of someone finding out that I’m somehow lacking something. If you are self aware, these are the kind of thoughts that will run through your mind as you manage and lead your non-profit.
- Avoid being a micro-manager, control-freak, or ineffectual delegator. Executive Directors are one of these things, usually, because of fear. A fear that no one else can do it as well as they do. Our response: Really?
Secure leaders are successful leaders who can manage their time well. Being comfortable in your own skin will cause you to hire folks that are smart enough to do their respective jobs. They do them at least as good, and hopefully better than you can, at times. It’s having a level of comfort in your own person which allows you to not desire to be in control of all things at all times.
We explored time management in a prior post (Time Management: My Non-profit Journey), addressing the tactical aspects of time management.
- Figuring out what to do next. What is important? What is urgent?
- Knowing the differences between the two.
In this post, the personal dimension of a good time manager was explored. Frankly, it’s a perspective of time management which isn’t discussed a lot.
What do successful time managers do?
- They remove themselves from having to personally do everything at the non-profit they lead.
- They are inspiring leaders, not just paper-pushing managers.
- They truly keep the mission first, hire properly, and make wise decisions – based on what’s best for the organization, and not what’s best for them.
Again, time management is both personal and tactical. Master these things and you too can be a great time manager!
- Feel free to read our previous time management post (link); that post explored the tactical part of a leader managing their time well.
In this post, Robin Morgan clearly acknowledges the personal side of the art of time management. While offering an insightful look into how Executive Directors can manage their time wisely, she is keenly aware that this is a challenge for even the most capable leaders. Those who are comfortable in your own skin win.
The risks of wasting time, missing deadlines, and refusing to delegate are high. The rewards of the better outcomes that being a savvy time manager provide are infinite! To put it simply, when it comes to time management, knowing who you are is as important as knowing what time it is – and what to do next.
Your Outcomes Well
Better outcomes through Best Practices (Non-profit leaders)
Photo credit: Sean MacEntee/flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Your Outcomes Well
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