Achieving and creating balance at work is crucial for a Chief of Staff. Striking a balance involves managing many things, including workload, relationships, personal well-being, and company objectives.
These are my time testing Top TEN Tips that any Chief of Staff can use to achieve and create balance:
1. Effective Time Management:
- Prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance.
- Delegate tasks when appropriate to ensure that responsibilities are distributed effectively.How: I have a task list on my phone so if something comes to mind, I capture it. I also capture tasks on my work laptop and when I start my day or week, I review them and schedule it.
2. Clear Communication:
- Foster open and transparent communication within the team.
- Communicate expectations and priorities to avoid misunderstandings.
- Encourage feedback and actively listen to concerns or challenges.How: I set up 1:1 time with individuals and use part of the time to talk about my whole self and their whole self (sometimes this may not work with everyone so you will need to be judicious with whom you open up to and use chat channels to communicate).
3. Set Boundaries:
- Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life.
- Avoid overcommitting and be realistic about what can be accomplished.
- Communicate boundaries to colleagues and team members.How: I use my calendar and schedule “do not schedule times” and “focus time” and do my best to respect those times for me and then stick to it and let my team, colleagues, and leaders know and ask them to partner with me to keep my boundaries in place.
4. Delegate Effectively:
- Empower and trust team members to take ownership of specific responsibilities.
- Provide necessary support and resources for successful delegation.How: Trust the people whom I have delegated with and then walk away. Give them the space to succeed or even, fail, and then if I have set up an environment for open communication, we can talk and see how to turn a failure into a learning experience.
5. Prioritize Well-Being and Self Care:
- Encourage a culture that values employee well-being.
- Promote breaks and time off to recharge.
- Lead by example by prioritizing your well-being.How: Take the time off and disconnect. Identify backups when gone and let them handle and triage. And participate in self-care activities. My personal monthly ritual is a massage and facial. EVERY MONTH! You can define self-care however you want.
6. Professional Development:
- Invest in continuous learning and professional development.
- Develop skills that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
- Stay informed about industry trends and best practices.How: Sign up for paid and free courses and webinars on various websites. LinkedIn is a great resource. Work with a coach. I have several coaches externally that I work with as well as internal to my current organization Read or listen to a book. Connect with folks in your network. There are MANY amazing people to learn and work with.
7. Regular Reflection:
- Take time to reflect on accomplishments and challenges.
- Assess personal and team performance.
- Use insights from reflection to make improvements and adjustments.How: I schedule time to reflect and make a list of the items I need to spend thoughtful and intentional time reviewing and where necessary, apply and/or provide feedback.
8. Cultivate a Positive Culture:
- Promote a positive and inclusive work culture.
- Celebrate achievements and milestones.
- Address conflicts promptly and constructively.How: In my team, we spend time discussing aspects of our lives we are comfortable sharing, i.e. we are all pet people. One of the people on my team named our pets our “Emotional Support Crew” which has opened the door to so many non-work-related conversations.
9. Build a Supportive Team:
- Foster a team culture where members support each other.
- Encourage collaboration and mutual assistance.
- Recognize and appreciate the efforts of team members.How: In our normal team meetings, I typically will publish an agenda. I randomly pick a meeting regularly and share specific praise and positive feedback with my appreciation for the positive feedback received about my team members. My team is small enough that this is possible but challenge yourself to think differently about how you show appreciation and then do it.
10. Flexibility and Adaptability:
- Be adaptable in the face of unexpected challenges or changes.
- Foster a culture that embraces change and innovation.
- Continuously reassess and adjust strategies as needed.How: I often tell people Life Happens regardless of your plans. Things happen. Showing grace and patience are underrated skills. I never know that person’s situation and what was thrown on their lap. My current executive is a great example of showing grace. I was in a situation with a pregnancy that had an unfortunate result. I was stressed and my husband was stressed! One thing that I was not stressed out about was work. He had created an environment with me where I didn’t have to worry about getting back to him about certain work items and when I did reach out, with compassion had me focus on my personal life and not work. And I did just that.
I hope these tips help you!
