You're balancing thought leadership initiatives and daily tasks. How do you prioritize your time effectively?

Having scheduled time for specific goals would help set the "mood" for certain tasks. Otherwise, everything becomes a priority, depending on what comes up. Of course, some of us, including myself, like to think that I am only creative whenever I feel like it; it cannot be forced. However, I find that having a time block helps me be creative upon prompting. Because of all these Discussion Prompts, I can write what I wrote! So let your creative juice runs wild, and over time, it will be looking forward to go, at the scheduled time.

If anyone can find me a task prioritization system that works consistently for most people, I’d love to see it. I think you just need to decide to do it (whatever “it” is for you). There’s a difference between wanting to do something and deciding to do something. I have done 100% of the things Ive decided to do.

As we move up the Career Ladder and are in a position of leadership, it is a new skill that we need to learn - the Art of Delegation. We have to trust that our team members can do the assigned tasks and that they will turn to ask us for guidance as and when they need it. This allows us to do other higher-level thinking and leadership tasks, that would help further the mission and vision of the organization.

Time Out is essential in a good game. It is a chance to regroup and evaluate what works and what needs to be improved on the fly. Similarly, we as Leaders, need to schedule some Time Out, within the day, within the week, or within the month, to review and re-evaluate what works, what to keep doing, and what to stop doing.

Build in dedicated time for thought leadership in your schedule. Ensure flexibility in your schedule by setting a daily workload that allows for some thought leadership time everyday. Monitor your boundaries and adjust scheduling to ensure sustainability of combining thought leadership and daily tasks.

Rest is a critical component of success. While many strive to find time for study, learning, working, critical thinking, writing, and more, what most are truly seeking is holistic success. This reminds me of video games, where you battle a boss level for so long that it seems impossible to win. Yet, if you take some time away to rest or sleep, you often find you can complete the level with ease upon your return. Business is the same, in my experience. Taking breaks and ensuring adequate rest can rejuvenate your mind and lead to more effective problem-solving and decision-making. Holistic success integrates well-being with professional achievements.

Block time in your calendar for thought leadership activities like writing or research. Treat these blocks seriously, no interruptions! Each morning, make a to-do list with both daily tasks and thought leadership goals. Do the most important things first. Not all tasks are created equal. Aim to do the 20% of daily tasks that make the biggest difference. This frees up time for thought leadership, the stuff that gets you noticed! Group similar tasks together, like answering emails in one go. Silence distractions and find a quiet space to focus when working on thought leadership. Can you delegate some daily stuff ? Don't try to do it all. Set realistic goals and take breaks to avoid burnout. Track how you spend your time for a few days.