Work Smarter, Not Harder: Boost Your Productivity
Work Smarter, Not Harder: Boost Your Productivity
🌟Career Coaching: The In Day-Out Day Method of Time Management
Deep into this hot summer, I hope you’ve booked some time off to relax and recharge. Slowing down and enjoying some summer fun is essential. I’m producing a project with Europeans, and I envy their month-long holiday from work.
Between reading and relaxing, I also suggest spending some time thinking about working smarter, not longer hours after Labor Day, when the entertainment industry revs up again. I can vouch for the practical strategies outlined below, and hope you try one or two to reduce stress while boosting productivity.
My favorite time management strategy is to have “In Days” and “Out Days”. I started doing this years ago when I lived in a Los Angeles suburb and traffic made it nearly impossible to meet anyone in person. This was before Zoom and Covid made online meetings the norm.
In Days are for focused work. Spend time drafting new business proposals, updating competitive research, returning phone calls and digging through email. Update your LinkedIn profile and connect with people on the platform. Review the people LinkedIn suggests you connect with, whether or not you follow through. The more you interact with the platform, the better the algorithm works to strengthen your network.
I also write these blogs on my In Days. I take advantage of the quiet time to think about our coaching business and creative projects. Daydreaming and brainstorming without interruption is critical to success.
It may be tough, but please limit the number of times you check email on your In Days. No one will die if you take a few hours to respond. In fact, the more time you spend thinking or crafting a reply, the better the outcome may be.
Out Days are for networking. Schedule multiple appointments, and leave some time between meetings to run errands or shop. My twice monthly Out Days begin with a beautiful, one-hour train ride along the Hudson River to New York City. My first appointment is usually at the nail salon. From there, I book a business lunch at a favorite restaurant to keep my energy up.
After lunch, I take a break to shop or run errands before an afternoon coffee date with a business associate or colleague. Avoid noisy Starbucks in favor of a quiet hotel lobby. In New York City, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Columbus Circle has a wonderful cafe overlooking the city. Coffee is not super expensive and I’m always surrounded by interesting people.
Then book a drink or dinner with a business contact or friend. Look for a small, intimate place where you don’t have to shout at each other; again, hotel lobby bars and cafes are great. Put your phone away. You want to focus on the person you are with, not scroll through messages.
Most people in the entertainment industry are open to a short meeting if they know you have something interesting to share or are working on a project you can speak about. A 30-minute meeting is ideal, but build in some extra time at the end to go longer if the conversation is flowing. Think about something helpful you can offer the person during the meeting rather than focusing exclusively on your own needs. People are busy, so aim to schedule your meetings at least two weeks in advance.
Read on for some pointers on preparing your workspace for the fall:
If you feel overwhelmed, buried in emails and paperwork, then consider hiring a virtual assistant. There are thousands of these talented folks.
Pick a time when you are feeling energetic to tackle an office clean up. Whether you have a formal office or work in a corner of the dining room, job number one is to sort through any piles of paperwork and toss or file as necessary.
Sort through your office supplies. Toss or donate things you don’t use and stock up on things you need. Make sure you have printer cartridges on hand. The ink always runs dry when you are printing something important.
Take a look at bulletin boards or other things hanging on your wall. I love film festival posters, but I happily tossed one from 2021. An empty bulletin board is an opportunity to refresh the things you look at every day.
These strategies can help to enhance your productivity and job satisfaction. By striking a balance between focused work and strategic networking, you'll be well-prepared to tackle the busy fall season with confidence and efficiency.
