Most leaders deal with time management issues.  There is much to do and limited time to accomplish everything.  Here are four recommendations that may help you get a grip on the limited time you have to do your work.

Set aside 20 to 30 minutes of quiet time in the beginning of the week to review your schedule and prioritize your tasks.

1. Focus on the most important tasks.  Resist the urge to do the easy tasks to get them out of the way.  Often, when we do this we get to the important and more difficult tasks too late and the time pressure affects the quality of the work.
2. Build time into your schedule to plan ahead, catch up on research or projects that are pending, and take care of yourself.
3. Have an agenda for meetings and stick to it.  Just because you have allotted an hour for a meeting does not mean that you must fill the hour. Identify decisions that need to be made and ensure that they are made during the meeting. 

Sometimes events occur that bring life and it's challenges into perspective.  Two weeks ago I was prepared to cancel a much-needed vacation to visit a client instead.  The day before I planned to cancel I had a minor "cardiac event" and had to spend some time at our local hospital.  I was telling the cardiologist about my plan to cancel the vacation and she warned me not to do that - the vacation was much more important than the client visit. 

I've given a lot of thought to my "event" over the past two weeks and it struck me that most leaders do not take care of their own needs, especially their health needs.  I looked at it this way, if I were to die or become incapacitated, my clients would go on (yes, they would miss my sage advice!).  But, my children would not have a father to share their special events with or to give them guidance and advice as they struggled with their own challenges.  My wife would not have her companion and best friend to enjoy life with.  My friends would also have a big hole in their life as well.  And, who would pay the bills!

Seriously, leaders need to take the time (and it is all about time!) to take care of their health, their family, and their own mental and spiritual needs.  Leaders who are well rested, centered, and enjoying life are much more effective than overworked and stressed leaders.  There is a lot of validity to the statement, "stop and smell the roses."  Whatever your rose is, stop and smell it - you will be renewed.

In todays economic environment, we tell ourselves we must work harder and harder to gain a competitive edge.  I know  that is my self-talk as well.  But, we need to slow down.  I recommend, to many executives that I coach, something called sacred time.  This is time spent a couple times a week in a quiet place with no technology and no distractions.  At a minimum, I recommend two 20-minute periods.  It is uncomfortable at first, but most people come to cherish it as time well spent.  What happens during sacred time?  Well, after a few sessions we begin to listen  to that inner voice of calm and reason.  We prioritize better.  We think about what is important and what isnt quite so pressing.  We become better at what we do.

But, in times like these the tendency is to forget things like sacred time  and that is when we become disoriented and frazzled; because, there are few things on your schedule more important than the sacred time.  Also, remember that your family and loved ones feel your stress as well.  Take time for them and dont forget what is most important in your life.  Sacred time will help you focus on what is most important  try it  you need it now, more than ever.