written by Erica Quam
Is it possible you have more time than you think? Most coaches I know talk about how busy they are and how they don’t have ANY time do to ANYTHING else.
Look a little closer and you may find you have more time than you think. It’s time to get really honest and clear about where to set boundaries and look at what can be removed from your plate. Take a look at your habits and begin to examine some little things you do all the time.
#5 – DELEGATE
Does this phrase sound familiar? “By the time I show someone how to do it, I could do it myself.”
Keep track of all of the things that you COULD delegate and how long each item takes you. Chances are you have a lot to clean off your plate that someone else could do instead.
Take time to write out a clear expectation around it with a timeline of when you want it completed. Then hand it off to someone else: an administrative assistant, an assistant coach, a volunteer or student assistant, etc.
This will free you up to focus on more important things!
#4 – SCHEDULE A TIME TO CHECK EMAIL & SOCIAL MEDIA
Do you start your day checking email or responding to the multitude of alerts and vibrations that buzz into your phone?
First, turn your alerts off. Your phone is training you to be distracted. You get a hit of dopamine every time you respond to an alert. This distracts your focus and keeps you in a constant loop of reactivity. It also increases your levels of stress and anxiety!
It’s one thing to take a few minutes to respond to an important email. It’s another to get off track every time a new email or alert comes in that you feel obligated to respond to. It’s time to change your habits.
Set up your day up in advance. Outline what you need to get done. Prioritize your top 3 things.
Have scheduled and limited time when you check your email and social media. Otherwise, shut it down.
#3 – GET HELP AT HOME
The simple act of hiring someone to clean your house - even once a month - will change your life. And you don’t need to justify it to anyone. You’ll improve your relationship with your spouse, kids, and feel an incredible sense of abundance. That is all.
#2 – OUTLINE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS
Here’s a common scenario summed up in a single paragraph…see if it resonates with you at all:
Hire an assistant coach. Get very excited to have a new person on board! Yay! Tell them a few things to do. Get busy the next day. Expect them to do things but don’t tell them what those are. Get frustrated and complain to other coaches or colleagues that your assistant doesn’t do anything you want them to do.
What to try instead: Lay out what you expect from your assistant coach in a step-by-step format. Spell out the results you want with a specific timeline. Take time each day to continue this training. It requires clarity, focus and consistency. And it pays off.
#1 – GET OUTSIDE SUPPORT
Just because you are a coach does NOT mean that you should “go it alone.”
When I got my first head coaching job, I hired a coach to work with me each week. I can’t tell you how much time I saved because of what I learned from her! She kept me focused, accountable, and clear about my next steps.
A coach will be able to see - way before you can - all the things you’re doing to distract yourself from your vision and goals….then help you get back on track. A coach can help you prioritize and set boundaries for yourself….learn what to say yes to and when to say no.
It’s time to reach out, get a mentor, hire a coach, or surround yourself with other successful coaches who can get real with you about how you’re wasting time!
Share with me: Which one of these would be the biggest help for you and when will you start?
Erica Quam swam for the Indiana University Hoosiers and coached collegiate swimming for 15 years – most recently as the Head Coach at Washington State University. In 2012 she shifted her focus to coaching coaches.
If you liked this post and want to dig in deeper, get access to my free training and coaching journal templates The Work Within the Workout for a journaling system you can use right away.
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