There’s a well-known saying that goes, “If you want something done, give it to a busy woman.”

So many of my successful clients are women who not only run a successful six-figure plus coaching practice, but also run their households and function as the primary parents. I help these clients get smarter about where they spend their time and energy so they can get the biggest bang for their buck. Whether you are wearing one hat or many, these strategies can help you be more effective at maximizing your time.

One of the biggest challenges I see for high-achieving women is that we put ourselves last in the equation. Everything else gets done, but our health, fitness, peace of mind, and sleep tend to get impacted.

I encourage my clients to be strategic in planning their time and energy management. When a woman is taxed and something comes in that she wasn’t planning for, the first thing that goes is personal health and wellness (“I was planning to go to the gym / meditate / get a full night’s sleep, but now I’ll have to shelve that to get this done…”)

When we are strategic and schedule buffer time for unexpected urgent & important priorities, we can ensure that we don’t override the time we’ve blocked for ourselves and have space to fill our own cup. And how, exactly, can you do that?

Allow me to walk you through my top six strategies to managing your time and priorities most effectively.

6 Strategies for Maximizing Your Efficiency

Strategy #1: Be Discerning

The first thing to look at the clients you are taking on (including the clients who are already on your roster). Be discerning about which names appear on your roster so you only work with people who keep your energetic gas tank full and you aren’t being drained by clients who are a poor fit. Only say “yes” to a prospect if it’s a powerful yes for both of you.

Strategy #2: Partner with Others

If a prospect comes in who isn’t an ideal client for you, partner with another coach, consultant or trainer who can deliver what the client needs. This will be a triple win: it’s a win for you for not taking up a valuable space destined for an ideal client, it’s a win for the partner who now has a new client, and it’s a win for the client who now is working with someone who can deliver what they need.

You may even arrange a referral fee to get an even greater win for you. Even if you decide not take a referral fee, you’ve at least created invisible currency and your relationships will be stronger for it.

In the end, it will serve everyone to pass a non-ideal client to someone who will be thrilled to work with that client.

Strategy #3: Schedule Everything Important

Everything important — including self-care — needs to be scheduled in your calendar. Make sure that you not only block time, but honor the time you’ve scheduled and actually follow through. Every one of my important “to do’s” has dedicated time on my calendar.

Strategy #4: Make Space for Opportunities

Schedule at least 20% of your time to work “on” the business rather than working “in” the business. That 20% will allow space for opportunities to come in that you may not have expected and you’ll find that you are most creative and relaxed when you have space.

Strategy #5: Understand Your Capacity

How many clients can you manage successfully and stress-free in any given month? I believe in having some padding in this area, as well, because things never go exactly as expected in terms of time. Some clients take as much time as you think they will and others are constantly asking questions, sending emails or asking for additional meetings. Create some room each day for dealing with client emergencies and other unplanned client needs that may come up.

Strategy #6: Maximize Your Peak Energy Times

Maximize your peak energy times for strategic and creative work. Conversely, put busy work, paper work, email and other administrative tasks during your non-peak energy hours. If you have an afternoon lull at 3 pm each day, take a break during that time and do things that are low-impact, like filing or cleaning out your inbox. Or use that for self care time and go for a walk!

This week, what can you do to strategically plan your time more effectively and get the biggest bang for your buck in terms of time, energy and money? What are some of your best strategies to managing your time effectively? I’d love to hear from you!

With appreciation,

Tara Butler Floch