I talked to one Executive Director and she shared with me that she almost lost her marriage because of the commitment to her job.
I know that was never the intended goal she set for herself. Thankfully, she took time to slow down, take a step back, and realize that all of a sudden, all those “things” that were so pressing were not as pressing as they seemed.
Another Executive Director looked up from his job and realized that he didn’t have any other relationships or friendships outside of the people he worked with and worked for. He realized his job was essentially his life, and that translates to constantly being on the go with no time to develop relationships with other people.
I have talked to several Executive Directors and staffers who say they don’t have time because they are going from meeting to meeting, or from event to event. They are moving so fast and handling so many issues they sometimes find themselves not enjoying what they are doing and running in circles
Whether you are just starting, or If you have been doing your job for a while, you may already have a system or workflow down, but I would like to present another thought process.
I understand it seems counter productive to “slow down” when everything about your job or position is pretty fast paced, but you need to Take the time and really slow down.
Slow down for what?
Slow down so that you don’t miss the little details, like a line in a contract, that could possibly cost you big in the end;
Slow down enough so you can recognize if an property or business owner is having a real struggle in life that you may be able to help them with;
Slow down so that you can really enjoy what you’re are doing and the impact that you are having;
Slow down so that you can share your knowledge, experience and insight with those who need your help.
If you will do this seemingly small thing, I really believe that you will see a big results in your work and personal life.
Here are 3 TIPS to help you take the time to Slow Down
-
Use a time management sheet and track your day.
Start tracking how long it really takes you to help that property or business owner or maybe even how long that Board meeting really took. Track how long that networking event took, or how long your security meeting went. You will be surprised at some of the small adjustments you can make with even just a few minutes. Sometimes we don’t realize how long something really takes us to accomplish if we aren’t tracking the actual time we spend on it. I have a sample time tracking sheet for you. The first column is the time you plan and block out. The second column is to jot down what you actually did – if it was different than the task you actually blocked out the time for. Be sure to include your drive time and sleeping time. You can download a sample time tracking sheet here
-
Block out you week into segments.
For example, block out Mondays from 10-12 for administrative work only. You have to do the paperwork anyway. Put your phone on silent until you are done because phone calls are a major distraction when you are trying to complete a task. Block out a segment to spend time with your family if you have one. This is major. It sounds crazy to “schedule” the time for family, but if you don’t, you could easily fill in that time with work. I would encourage you to block out time slots to meet with property or business owners . You can either meet in person or on the phone. It’s important that you make the time to keep your ear to the ground and stay connected to your owners.
-
Come in two hours earlier and leave two hours earlier a couple of days a week
It’s summertime. The sun is out earlier, so you can get your day started earlier! No one will even know you are at the office already when you go in super early. This way you know you can work without the interruptions of people walking into your office, or phones ringing. You can get more accomplished and take off work earlier than you normally would and enjoy the rest of the day!
This industry of Improvement Districts or Urban Place Management, or whatever you want to call it, isn’t designed for those who are looking to just work a job. It attracts people like you who are committed to making real change and impacting their community. The reality is, this job you’re doing doesn’t have a finish line, doesn’t have an end date, and doesn’t ever stop. So goes the mantra of those who have chosen a profession that is designed to make life better for people. Everyday, you will always have something to do to improve spaces in your district. The reports will constantly need to be reviewed, problems need to be solved, the relationships need to be built. That sounds noble, and it really is. You just need to be sure that you are giving yourself permission to pause, otherwise, you will be continually on the go and eventually burnt out helping no one.
Hope this helps
Emily