As an Assistant, one of your primary responsibilities is to help your Executive manage their time strategically. This is a crucial part of the role and can be quite time-consuming. However, when done effectively, it adds incredible value. You can ensure that your Executive stays on task, attends the right meetings, and focuses on the most important activities. This not only boosts their productivity at work but also gives them time to plan, spend with their family, and pursue passions outside of work.
In this article, we’ll explore strategies to help you strategically manage your Executive’s time effectively.
If you only pick up five time-saving tips from our Outlook Hacks and Keyboard Shortcuts for Executive Assistants, we reckon you may be able to save hours across your working year. Think of all the wonderful things you could do with that extra time!
The ideal workweek is an excellent planning tool you can use with your Executive to create a baseline for managing their time. While there’s rarely an “ideal” week due to the fast pace of work and constant urgent matters, having an ideal workweek plan brings order to your Executive’s day—and yours.
An ideal workweek helps your Executive and their team understand priorities and how their projects fit into the broader schedule. This reduces the need for constant firefighting and managing a stressed, burnt-out Executive.
How to Create an Ideal Workweek:
In Free to Focus, Michael Hyatt recommends dividing your Executive’s time into three categories:
Front Stage Tasks:
Backstage Tasks:
Offstage Tasks:
Theming divides the week into specific focuses for each day. This method helps establish a rhythm and ensures time is allocated for key priorities.
Example Themed Week:
Theming helps focus your Executive’s attention on similar activities, boosting productivity.
Share this article:
Join 30,000+ Assistants receiving our carefully crafted weekly newsletter packed with valuable tips, tricks, and insights tailored specifically for Assistants like you.
