Leaders can work smarter by employing the following four tactics, according to Mr. Yu’s recent article in Fortune.
1. Understand cadences
“I’m always mapping back to [my] goals, as they give me a more quantifiable way to manage my time and business,” said Mr. Yu. He explained that balancing different parts of his business is a key tenet of his success. By keeping and tracking monthly, quarterly and annual goals, Mr. Yu is able to operate on a schedule at all times.
2. Focus on impact, not hours
This idea is “arguably the most important lesson for any leader who’s trying to balance it all.” Mr. Yu suggests prioritizing actions that result in desired outcomes. Don’t forget your larger goal, which should guide your motivation and efforts. “Let the impact you want to make guide you, not the hours in the day,” said Mr. Yu.
3. Delegate responsibility
According to Mr. Yu, “there is no ‘I’ in team, even for the CEO.” Leaders can’t handle every task on their own. Those who see the value in leveraging their team and allow others to contribute will reap the most success in the long-run. “Pass along tasks to folks you know can tackle them successfully — particularly as you grow — and insert yourself into the review process to save time,” said Mr. Yu.
4. Put in the necessary time
“If you prioritize your time at the office carefully, you’ll likely see those hours pay off — and that’s the best part of being a leader,” said Mr. Yu. Maximizing your time is the key to being productive. While some situations may require you to put in extra hours to accomplish important tasks, prioritizing responsibilities and executing them in this order will prevent the work day from invading your spare time.
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