Practical Tips: Prioritize Your Agenda

The boundary between work and “real” life is increasingly blurred. Our “wired” culture, lean corporate structures and demand for instant results all contribute to the feeling that being accessible 24/7 is critical. The irony is that having clear boundaries actually results in better work outcomes than working all the time. Try these tips to help preserve time for you.

Manage Expectations
Choose when you’re going to be available and manage expectations accordingly. If you’re going to be available until 6pm and no later, make sure your coworkers and clients know it. Keep your word. Make sure you’re not sending mixed messages by doing things like answering e-mails after 6pm; go ahead and read them if you must but answer in the morning or schedule the e-mail you write for next-day delivery.

Daily “For You” List
Before you immediately jump into your work tasks each morning, take a moment to think about what you want/need to accomplish for yourself. Maybe it’s catching up on your business pubs or dashing off a note to an industry acquaintance. Or perhaps it’s a work project you really want to do but keeps falling to the bottom of your list. Block time in your calendar and get the work you believe is important done first.

Stay Connected
It’s tempting to believe that immersing yourself in work is going to pay off. And certainly sometimes you need to prioritize work at the expense of your personal relationships. However, staying connected to the people and activities you enjoy gives you energy and helps keep you from feeling exhausted and drained at work. You’ll actually be able to be more productive at work if you make time for friends and loved ones.

You are welcome to reprint this article as long as you include the following in its entirety: Reprinted from “Our Corporate Life®,” a biweekly ezine featuring practical tips and tools for navigating the corporate world. © MMXI Amanda Mitchell, Our Corporate Life, LLC. Subscribe at www.ourcorporatelife.com