Time is often in short supply in many businesses and time mastery is at the core of everything ActionCOACH stands for. It’s also an important facet of ActionCLUB. Al Gibson shares some of the things he has learned while attending this group coaching programme led by Andrew De Groot.
In the world of business, where every second counts, the ability to effectively manage time can make all the difference. I’ve certainly found this aspect of the ActionCOACH training to be a game changer. It has also resonated with other business owners in the ActionCLUB group I am part of. It’s great to be on a learning journey together, share business challenges and find common solutions with people from different fields of industry and companies of varying sizes.
Did you know that saving just 10 minutes a day equates to an entire week’s holiday in a year? Imagine if you could start saving two hours per week? These are questions I’ve often heard Andrew ask. Discovering that this is possible can make a huge difference in any business no matter how big or small it is. Via ActionCOACH business coaching I’ve learned the importance of planning ahead and prioritisation.
I have discovered that a great way to accomplish this is through regular 90 Day Planning Sessions, and Andrew offers these through his ‘Growth Club’ programme each quarter. ActionCLUB is a year-long group coaching programme that provides many practical tools, diagnostic exercises and ways to test and measure progress.
Specifically with regards to time management these include running time logs to determine what is important vs what is urgent and bring a new focus and clarity to your business. You soon realise the importance of not only working in the business but also working on the business. Working in the business is ‘doing the do’, all the regular things, while working on the business includes things like planning, new marketing strategies, training, self development and creating new and better systems or ways of doing things. Andrew recommends one should set apart a minimum of five hours a week to work on the business.
I’ve found out that it’s better to have an Outcomes List rather than a To Do List. The first is seemingly more achievable while the second may seem overwhelming to some. Eat That Frog! is a helpful resource here, recommended by Andrew. I have also discovered that a default diary is a powerful tool that enables you to structure your days with intention, allocating specific time blocks for essential tasks.
For me, running time logs has been a worthwhile exercise in determining how my time was being spent, indicating the corrective action required. When one gets better at distinguishing between what is important and what is urgent, the newfound clarity becomes a guiding force. This is one of the reasons why I find the ActionCLUB programme so worthwhile.
ActionCOACH places a large emphasis on the value of time and actively assists entrepreneurs and business professionals in reclaiming it. A pivotal aspect of Time Mastery involves learning how to prioritise tasks based on their potential impact on profitability. For instance, you could categorise jobs into these four groups:
- jobs that will definitely make you money
- jobs that could make you money
- jobs that might make you money later
- jobs that won’t make you money
When you evaluate your workload in these terms it’s a no-brainer as what to do next. This simple categorisation empowers one to focus on income-generating activities, while avoiding time-consuming ventures that may not contribute to business growth.
The question to consistently ask is, “Is this the most productive thing I could be doing for my business right now?”
This helps me to avoid the many rabbit holes I am faced with. It will also help you to prioritise your time so your main energy is spent on developing the business when you are at your optimum level, relegating less important tasks to times when your body clock is less productive.
Making the shift to Time Mastery
Time Mastery necessitates a paradigm shift, and Steven Covey’s timeless insights on time management are worth reviewing. In a recent ActionCLUB session Andrew played a clip from one of FranklinCovey’s classic videos which you can watch below, Steven introduces the metaphor of rocks, pebbles, and sand. Rocks represent the most important goals, pebbles signify tasks of medium importance, and sand denotes the smaller, often routine items on a To-Do list.
I have seen this concept demonstrated in different ways, yet the lesson learned is timeless. See how Steven tackles the concept of time management face on, coaxing a company director to see time management differently.
We may think there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. We may think it is impossible to fit everything in. However when we prioritise the major things, the less important things find a way to fit in between the gaps.
The key lesson here is the order of priority – if you pour the sand in first, there’s no space for the rocks and pebbles. Prioritising the major tasks ensures that the less critical ones fall into place seamlessly. Rocks in a business context could include Director’s Meetings, Sales Meetings, Team Meetings, Marketing Calls, Financial Reviews, Daily Planning, and Personal Development Training or whatever is vital to your business success.
I hope I have given you a helpful taste of Time Mastery via ActionCOACH. However, this is best discovered by experiencing the ActionCLUB programme in person. Here’s a final thought which I find motivational – We can enhance our Time Mastery by setting our brain compasses each night in expectancy of the day ahead. As the saying goes, “Today isn’t finished until you have planned tomorrow!”
Ready to develop time mastery skills? Schedule a call with Andrew De Groot!
If you’re eager to master your time and achieve increased business success, click to contact ActionCOACH Exeter and take a step towards a more productive and fulfilling business journey. .
