Tips for Working Smarter

"If I just work a few more hours..." "Maybe I should skip lunch today..." "I'll sleep when I'm done..." Sound familiar? These were the thoughts running through my client's head before burnout hit. 🚩 As a high achiever, they fell into the classic trap: Measuring their value by hours worked, not impact made. Here's what I tell my overwhelmed clients 👇 1. Energy Management > Time Management 🔋 • Your peak hours are worth 5x your tired hours • Block your best 2 hours for critical thinking • Save admin work for energy dips 2. Strategic Laziness Wins 🎯 • Automate repeated tasks • Template common responses • Build systems, not to-do lists • Ask: "Does this need to be done at all?" 3. Focus on Impact Metrics 📊 • Replace "hours worked" with "problems solved" • Track outcomes, not activity • Cut meetings that don't drive decisions 4. Recovery is Productivity 🔄 • Short breaks boost problem-solving by 42% • "Always on" = always underperforming • Rest is not a reward - it's a requirement The truth? Working harder is amateur advice. Working smarter is what professionals do. What's your best "work smarter" hack? Share below 👇 --- 🔔 Follow Sharon Grossman for more leadership strategies that actually work ♻️ Share this to help your network work smarter, not harder

We're all too busy at work…but we don't need to be. 7 ways to work smarter, not harder: 1/ Frontload your day: Put your most important tasks at the beginning of your day. You'll have more energy to tackle them early on before distractions pop up. Write down your top 3 tasks each day and do them. No excuses. 2/ Set shorter deadlines: Parkinson's Law says that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. If you're about to start a month-long project, ask yourself: "What does the 2-week version look like?" Shorter deadlines force you to focus on what matters. 3/ Track your time: Spend a week tracking your time. Record everything. At the end of 1 week, you'll likely find that you spend more time than you realize on specific activities. Adjust accordingly. 4/ Batch tasks together: Block out some time and blast through repetitive tasks such as: • Responding to emails • Checking slack • Pulling metrics You'll get into a groove and get through them faster. 5/ Do what gives you energy: At the end of your week, look back at the projects you worked on. Identify what tasks gave you energy and which tasks sucked. Figure out a way to delegate tasks that don't give you energy. Speaking of delegating... 6/ Delegate more: Delegating gives you more time to focus on the most important tasks. Try out the Eisenhower Matrix for decision-making: High urgency + High importance = DO NOW Low urgency + High importance = SCHEDULE High urgency + Low importance = DELEGATE Low urgency + Low importance = DELETE 7/ Take more breaks: This is counter-intuitive but works. If you go too long without a break, you will eventually get tired and make mistakes. Try the Pomodoro Technique: Focused work for 25 min. Then take a 5 min break. Repeat. --- These tips have worked for me. I hope they work for you too! Let me know if there are any good tips that I've missed 👇

Busy Season Tips to Push on Through!! First of all, you got this!! Whether you are on the client side or a busy CPA in public accounting, deadlines are fast approaching. Busy season or not, effective time management is crucial for achieving professional success and personal well-being. Here are key strategies that can help you stay on top of your tasks without burning out: 1. Prioritize Ruthlessly: Not all tasks are created equal. Use the Eisenhower Box (urgent-important matrix) to distinguish between tasks and prioritize them accordingly. 2. Time Blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time to different activities or tasks. This helps maintain focus and increases productivity by reducing the context-switching that drains energy. 3. Set Clear Goals: Start each day with a clear set of objectives. What do you want to achieve by the end of the day? This clarity propels action and reduces procrastination. 4. Embrace 'No': Protect your time. Politely declining additional commitments that don't align with your current priorities or values can save you hours of lost productivity. 5. Leverage Technology: Utilize project management tools and apps to keep track of deadlines, set reminders, and organize your tasks more efficiently. Remember, time management is not about squeezing as many tasks into your day as possible. It's about simplifying how you work, doing what matters, and getting things done in the most efficient manner. Let's share: What time management strategies have worked best for you? #TimeManagement #ProductivityTips #ProfessionalGrowth #WorkLifeBalance

3 steps to master productivity: There's a limit on what you can do in a single day. At least competently. Throughout my career as a lawyer I've noticed a clear correlation. The more I try to do in a shorter period of time, the more the quality of my work product suffers. Small mistakes emerge. The polish on my final product loses its shine and becomes smudged. Here's what to do instead: 1. Used focused blocks. Limit your work to 2 or 3 hour blocks on a single task. This practice stops your brain from wasting energy on constant task transitions. Each switch incurs a cognitive penalty, and you have to reboot your brain to download the context surrounding the task. Focused blocks avoid frequent mental transitions and promote deep work. They enhance your concentration, and improve the quality of your end work product. 2. Reduce daily priorities If you can, set a maximum of 3 priorities each day. This approach prevents you from overloading your schedule and stepping into counterproductive territory. Stop saying yes to every assignment. Don't be afraid to turn away potential clients. With fewer priorities, your focus sharpens, and you give each task the attention it deserves. 3. Segment your day Dedicate specific parts of your day to distinct activities, often called "chunking". In the context of productivity, "chunking" refers to the practice of breaking up the workday into distinct, manageable segments or chunks of time dedicated to specific tasks or types of work. For example, you can dedicate the first two hours of your workday solely to deep work, then chunking email responses and meetings into later, more fragmented parts of the day. Try just one of these strategies and see what kind of difference it makes with your productivity and quality of your work. Follow me, James Kamanski, for more insights on personal growth! ♻ if you found value 🙏

You're swamped, drowning in tasks, but not seeing the impact of the endless hours you spend on your business. The hard truth? Busyness doesn't equal impact. After spending the last 5 years working with leaders, I've sliced through the clutter of traditional task management. Ready to break free from the shackles of endless to-do lists and skyrocket your productivity? Let’s unravel the simple and impactful strategy to manage what truly moves the needle, not just what keeps you busy. 🗺Here is your Roadmap: First, Set Clear Priorities: Identify your top three priorities for each quarter—these are your Rocks. These are non-negotiable tasks that will drive your business forward. By focusing on these Rocks, you ensure that your efforts and your team stay aligned with your strategic goals. Next, Measure What Matters: Implement a simple data dashboard that tracks key performance indicators (KPIs). This will help you make informed decisions based on data, rather than based on how you are feeling in the moment. Then, Establish Rhythms: Create a meeting cadence that allows you to consistently check-in, track progress, and build momentum. Weekly meetings to review your Rocks and KPIs can help keep you accountable and on track. By following these steps, you'll transform your workday from a series of tasks to a structured approach that propels your business towards its goals. Ready to turn your hard work into smart work that pays off? Send me a message and we can implement this process together. #Productivity #LeadershipCoaching #FractionalCOO

🕔 5 Productivity Tips for Product Managers (Even When You're Feeling Overwhelmed) 🕠 As a product manager, you're constantly juggling a lot of different tasks. There's always something new to learn, a new feature to launch, or a bug to fix. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed and unproductive. But don't worry, you're not alone. I've been there too. But I've learned a few things along the way that have helped me stay productive, even when I'm feeling swamped. 🎯 Set clear priorities. Know what you need to focus on. Take some time each day/week to review your goals and priorities. What are the most important things you need to get done? Once you know your priorities, start to plan your time accordingly. Remember 10 minutes of planning the evening before is worth a workday hour. ⚙ Use a task management tool. There are a lot of different task management tools available, so find one that works for you and stick with it. E.g. Click up, Notion, etc. 💨 Take breaks. It may seem counterintuitive, but taking breaks can actually help you be more productive. When you work for long periods of time without a break, your productivity starts to decline. So make sure to take breaks throughout the day, even if it's just for a few minutes. Try the Pomodoro timer here https://pomofocus.io/ 🤝 Delegate tasks. Don't be afraid to delegate tasks to others. This can free up your time so you can focus on the most important things. Just ask can someone else do it better and delegate. 🤖 Automate tasks. Look for ways to automate repetitive tasks, so you can save time and focus on more important things. There are a number of tools available that can help you automate tasks, such as Zapier and IFTTT. *Bonus* 💟 Take care of yourself. Make sure you're getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly. When you take care of yourself, you'll have more energy and focus to be productive. Following these tips can help you improve your productivity and get more done. But remember, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to productivity. What works for one person may not work for another. So experiment with different techniques and find what works best for you.   📌 P.S. What are your productivity tips for product managers?

𝟭𝟭 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗸𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. This is the exact list I share with my coaching clients this week. 👇 #1  𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. Being early helps us stay calm and collected. I used to love drinking my coffee before the hustle began. #2 𝗘𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. Missing meals and breakfast might feel like you are getting more done, but your work quality will be drastically affected if you are not energized and well-fed. #3 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆. Sorry means admitting fault. Admitting fault way too often is interpreted as incompetency more than honesty. #4 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. Whether you are working from home or going in. Just taking 5 minutes to get ready for the day can change the whole energy of your day. #5 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. You are NOT paid for the lunch hour! STOP working during it. #6 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨. You may not be at your dream job yet, but you are employed, and that is a big blessing, even if you don't realize it. #7 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻. A smile will add more value to you than to the other person. It eases you, helps you feel confident, and opens the door to communication. #8 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝟮 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀. Only 5-minute breaks can refresh you and increase productivity for the next task. Please take small but frequent breaks. #9 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. Just like you get to work on time, you must make it a habit to leave work on time. Set a non-negotiable boundary and never break it. #10 𝗚𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝘆. It's the best form of active rest. Even if it's a 5-minute breather. Make sure you get fresh air during each workday. This will open up your mind and help you be more creative throughout the day. #11 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝘆. Just one hour of no meetings can help you make epic progress on your projects. These habits will help you feel more confident at work every single day. For more insight into what's holding you back in your career, take my free 60-second career clarity quiz. ------- Hi I am Prasha Dutra, I help STEM women find their next $200k job, an out of turn promotion or start their first business in the next 90 days. Book a free clarity call with me to learn more.

Are you tired of your workday being eaten up by back-to-back meetings? You're not alone. Many of us feel overwhelmed by the number of meetings that seem to take over our schedules. But don't worry, I've got some easy strategies to help you and your team work better, with fewer interruptions. Chat More, Meet Less Firstly, let's lean into online chatting. Tools like Slack can be a game-changer. They let you share ideas and updates without needing to gather everyone for a meeting. It's a great way to keep the conversation going, without pausing your workday. The Magic of Quick Check-ins Next up, embrace the quick daily stand-up. A brief catch-up with your team each day can replace many longer meetings. It keeps everyone in the loop and can often be done in just a few minutes. Visual Brainstorming Then there's the power of visual tools. Digital boards like Miro are fantastic for brainstorming and planning. They make sharing ideas fun and interactive, cutting down the need for long discussions. Stay Focused Finally, make sure every meeting has a clear purpose. Before you call a meeting, ask yourself what you need to achieve. Keeping meetings focused and to the point can save a lot of time. So there you have it: chat instead of meet, quick daily updates, use visual tools, and keep meetings focused. By trying these simple tips, you can reduce meeting overload and make your workday more productive and enjoyable.

A third of Americans spend 4 to 12 hours a week in meetings and spend another 10 hours drafting emails every week. This means employees spend most of their business hours talking about work instead of doing work... So when does the actual work happen? Unfortunately, for most, it's after hours. Are you OK with this? Because I'm not. It's time to break the cycle of perpetual preparation and be productive. Here's how you can start: 1/ Ensure there is an agenda for every meeting and be ruthless in sticking to it. 2/ Question the necessity of your presence in every meeting. Don't be a seat-warmer. 3/ Set a timer for your email responses. You're not drafting the next bestselling novel. Keep it concise, clear, and action-oriented. 4/ Embrace the power of "No." No to meetings without purpose. No to redundant email chain. No to the glorification of busyness. It's time to unmute ourselves and voice out. The workday is for work, not just to talk about it. Let's stop being complicit in the grand illusion of productivity. Who's in?

You won't become successful by (just) working hard. “The harder I work the luckier I get” (Samuel Goldwyn’s famous quote) is a terrific ethic except it’s incomplete. These days, you have to work 'smart' as well. Why? Because working 'hard' is purely expending energy. Working 'smart' is: → Optimizing your time → Maximizing the return on your energy → Reinvesting in your own recovery I’ve been working since age 14 (about 4 decades). Here are 9 lessons I've learned about working smart: 1. Work with people who want to work with you (and vice versa) → Do everything you can to work with people you like (and like you) → Litmus test: would you enjoy sharing a casual meal with the person? 2. Don’t negotiate your compensation → Work with people who value you (the best clients will) → If someone's haggling price, they've already told you you're not worth it 3. Don't ignore getting paid → There's a big difference between 'income' and 'cash' → Income looks nice on a P&L; cash is what actually keeps you in business 4. Set up boundaries → New job or project? Get crystal clear alignment on expectations → Like to workout at noon each day? Convey your non-negotiable up front 5. Establish a comms protocol → What’s your preferred method of communicating? Text? WhatsApp? → Get this plan in place up front so no one is frustrated (especially you) 6. Look for red flags! → This applies to new clients, new jobs, even volunteer gigs → A red flag is a warning that your experience will only get worse 7. Delegate 'lower return' tasks → Hire a VA @ $20 an hour to manage your schedule if you charge $50 / hour → Look for opportunities to earn a margin on every hour of your time 8. Set up systems → Automation will dramatically improve your work life → Calendars apps, email rules, and the like free you up to maximize your time 9. Foster positive work 'karma' → When I hire someone, I flip my role and become the best client → Do that and you'll attract the same in return Pic: Clearest job description I've ever enjoyed → volunteer firefighter ______________________ I'm Marc Cabrera, a Wall Street deal maker. Follow me for hard won wisdom on finance and fitness.