1. Three Ways to avoid . . .
The Author
CEO Change Leader Strategist Issues & Crisis Manager
As CEO of YellowChair Strategy, he helps leaders transform
their organization to “survive today and thrive tomorrow.”
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
MARK AFFLECK
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
2. The Time Trap
All of us at some point encounter
circumstances that pressure and
then hijack our time.
It’s a
“TimeTrap” that
rises each day with the sun.
It’s a given.
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
3. The Time Trap
How we get snared in the first place?
Blame human nature…
it’s
Mark Affleck
OUR fault!
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
4. The Time Trap
We all start each day with a full
“container” of time as we head out
on our Activity Road.
Along the way, the
time container starts
to empty.
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
5. The Time Trap
We do what:
Comes EASY
Fuels our PASSION
We ENJOY doing
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
6. The Time Trap
Focusing on our favorite activities
is natural and a very good thing. It’s
the propulsion for productivity
and fuel for purpose in
our work.
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
7. The Time Trap
But that doesn’t keep the time container
from running down. And we’re ok until
the inevitable
scarcity takes over.
MARGIN
When that happens, our
has
started to thin and we are at risk.
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
8. The Time Trap
Then, right on cue, those inevitable
URGENT & IMPERATIVE
tasks appear on our road ahead. Of course we
immediately scramble to meet the new
challenges.
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
9. The Time Trap
But if the time container has run too
low, we have already marginalized our
response to the URGENT & IMPERATIVE.
WE’RE IN THE
TIME TRAP…
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
11. The Time Trap
So how do we avoid the
TIMETRAP’S PAIN
and mitigate its negative consequences?
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
12. The Time Trap
In three steps, which all pivot off MARGIN. Here
they are:
FIND MARGIN
MAINTAIN MARGIN
LEVERAGE MARGIN
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
13. The Time Trap
STEP
1 FIND MARGIN
Most people resort to conventional
TIME MANAGEMENT
to find margin.
I think it’s a very bad idea.
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
14. The Time Trap
I’ll be a bold contrarian here and declare that after 25
years as a CEO Leader, I strongly believe that
leaders cannot attain maximum effectiveness by merely
MANAGING their time.
That transactional mindset and approach will never,
by definition, be
STRATEGIC.
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
15. The Time Trap
How do you find margin?
FINDING MARGIN
comes from constantly reviewing my short and long-term
goals and strategic frame. I never get wrapped up in my
favorite activities without having those goal reminders at
my side. They help me see what could be missed if I
don’t intentionally create margin before I’m out of time.
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
16. The Time Trap
Using this approach, I’m able to
FIND THE MARGIN
I need…because have to! The goals and
strategy must always win the day.
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
17. The Time Trap
STEP
2 LEVERAGE MARGIN
FINDING MARGIN is the key and essential
start to avoiding the Time Trap. But it’s not
enough by itself. That margin must be
LEVERAGED.
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
18. The Time Trap
In order to strategically leverage time
and retain margin for the
URGENT & IMPERATIVE…
there needs to be an INTERRUPTION before the
time container runs out. That interruption must
happen when it doesn’t feel like you “have to.”
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
19. The Time Trap
Remember, we all are drawn to our
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES
what we like to do…
are passionate about…
and enjoy doing…
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
20. The Time Trap
LEVERAGING MARGIN
is achieved by regulating the time container’s pressure
to make sure our favorite activities don’t suck it dry. And
that produces the leverage.
Successful regulation of our time allows for
what’s imperative from our goals and
strategic frame to be completed.
We’ve now LEVERAGED our time against
what must be done.
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
21. The Time Trap
STEP
3 MAINTAIN MARGIN
It’s at this point that
conventional time
management techniques
provide effective maintenance.
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
22. The Time Trap
Here’s the 4-PART DECISION FILTER
I use to MAINTAIN MARGIN for each and every
circumstance that pops up on my Activity Road:
DELEGATE
DELAY
DROP
DECIDE
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com
23. The Time Trap
It’s fitting that this post ends with a paragraph on
conventional time management.
WHY?
Because if that’s all we do, there’s no chance
we’ll be the strategic and transformative leaders
this new ChangeAge demands.
The Author
CEO Change Leader Strategist Issues & Crisis Manager
As CEO of YellowChair Strategy, he helps leaders transform
their organization to “survive today and thrive tomorrow.”
Mark Affleck
Posted October 2013
MARK AFFLECK
http://www.yellowchairstrategy.com