#1 Call time on time

This week I’ve caught myself saying, “there aren’t enough hours in the day,” a lot. Perhaps it’s the bank-holiday-inset-day combo that comes around in May? But this mantra is not unique to May. I say it so often, I don’t even notice I’m doing it.

As insight professionals with a growing management and leadership remit, the pressures on our time can feel overwhelming. A default and very understandable reaction is to blame time.

 But does this serve us? Or is it holding us back?

 This is the question I am asking in this month’s newsletter.

THINK about how honest you are being about your relationship with time

Like with many habits, because they are so ubiquitous, we’ve stopped questioning them.

When we say “I don’t have time to do x,” what we are really saying is: “I don’t want to do x” or “I am prioritising x over y.”

Recognising this distinction is a key step to re-thinking our relationship with time.

Blaming time makes us FEEL out of control

When we blame time, we are placing responsibility on something “out there,” something that is happening to us that we don’t control.

The trouble with this framing is that it has us at the mercy of time, and when we are at the mercy of something, we feel helpless, which creates feelings of stress and anxiety.

We can never conjure up more time, but we can shift our attention to how we spend and experience the time we do have. This is something we have far more agency over.

DO take ownership of time, and it will stop owning you

1. PRIORITISE RUTHLESSLY

   Before becoming a leader / manager, how did you prioritise?

   What is it you want to achieve?

   What are you willing to sacrifice to get there?

2. BE MORE TAO

   By following thisTaoist doctrine…

   There is so much to do

   And so little time

   We must go slowly

3. SHIFT YOUR LANGUAGE

What disempowering language do you use around time? And what could you use instead?

3 ways to work with me…

Burn Bright (Not Out) Masterclasses: 60-90 minute group coaching sessions based on core topics from the group programme.

Becoming a Trusted Advisor: The 6 month group programme for emerging managers and leaders working in research and insight.

Burn Brighter: The 6 month 121 leadership development programme for insight professionals scaling up their management and leadership responsibilities.

Get in touch at zoe@youburnbright if you’re curious and want to know more.

Thank you for reading

As YBB’s first ever newsletter I would love to hear any feedback you have. And please share with your team, colleagues and friends, if you think they’d enjoy the read.