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I came across this article online via @CatalystLeader and it had some real practical tips on managing your time. Below is the bullet point version, but I encourage you to check out the full article here. It will be worth you “time” (pun intended).

1. Evaluate your time.
2. Set daily goals. 
3. Design your own to-do list. 
4. Group similar tasks.
5. Break down daunting tasks. 
6. Make meetings matter.
7. Take breaks. 
8. Allow for unexpected interruptions.

Clocks from Diamantini & Domeniconi.

Our lives are full of deadlines. We all have urgent items that are knocking at the front door, things that demand our attention. Granted, a lot of these urgent items need and should be given attention, but not at the expense of what is important. There will always be a tension between what demands our time and what needs our time. The trick is giving our attention to what is important regardless of the tangible urgency because what is important is not always urgent. Here are a few examples of Important Vs. Urgent:

Leading Vs. Doing

People Vs. Tasks

Planning Vs. Working

The following is an excerpt from my Pastor’s blog:

“Don’t confuse micromanaging with developing leaders. Many leaders get confused about this. You are not micromanaging when you are developing somebody. There is a season when you need and must know the details until you develop trust and the developing leader proves they can deliver high quality results consistently. Once the leader has proven him/herself, you need to turn them loose to lead and to lead strong without knowing all of the details. Don’t frustrate a proven leader by making them tell you the details. That’s micromanaging…”

To view the original post in its entirety click here to visit herbertcooper.com.

A constant tension in my life is to “do less for more”. In other words to try and focus on the most important things in life, the things that bring the most value to myself and others. This doesn’t mean that I have less to do it just means that I spend more time on what is most important. Here are a few things I do to try and carry out this principle:

1. Prioritize. To do what is important I first have to determine what is important. 

2. Delegate. There are certain things I need to be doing and certain things I shouldn’t be doing. I try to delegate the things I shouldn’t be doing.

3. Pause. It helps me to take breaks to identify if I am doing “more for less” or doing “less for more”. Change of Pace + Change of Place = Change of Perspective

4. Listen. One of the best things to have is the voice of others helping you to stay on track with what is most important. No man is an island. 

What are some things that you do to help stay focused on what’s most important?

The following is an excerpt from my Pastor’s blog:

“One of the mistakes many leaders make is they let go of knowing the details too soon. When you are dealing with a developing leader, you need to let them prove themselves first by getting some wins before you totally turn them loose. As you develop leaders, you have to have the wisdom to know when you can let go of knowing details. If you let go of knowing too soon with a developing leader, you will be blindsided, and you’re not doing your job well because things are always falling through the cracks. This kills so many leaders because they don’t develop people, they just hand out assignments and think a developing leader will produce results.”

On Thursday I will have the conclusion of this post.

To view the original post in its entirety click here to visit herbertcooper.com.

The following is a list of items that I gave my assistant when she first started working with me. These are few things that I have found helpful in keeping our department running efficiently during our day to day operations.

1. Be solution minded. With every problem give 3 or 4 possible solutions. With every question submit multiple choice answers.

2. Use proper lines of communication. No drive-by meetings. Schedule a time to talk or send me questions using the multiple choice format. When you call someone ask, “Is this a good time to talk”.

3. Communicate clearly and directly. Be tactful, direct, and to the point. Stay on point.

4. Lead through volunteers. Do the 20% that only you can do. Delegate effectively - this includes follow up.

5. Keep workspace and facilities clean and clutter free. Includes hallways and open areas. Organize desk before leaving at the end of the day.

6. Be considerate of other departments. We are not in competition with other departments. Be a team player. Ask permission before using equipment, volunteers, facilities, etc.

7. Give feedback in private. Never correct a volunteer or co-worker in front of someone else. The right thing at the wrong time will produce unwanted results.

8. Under promise and over deliver. Do not promise performance unless you can deliver.

9. Apply the “no surprise rule”. Keep me in the loop; let me know what you are doing

10. Be a good steward. Find the best price and manage resources well (volunteers, money, supplies, etc.).

11. Never miss a deadline. If it looks like you are going to be late, negotiate and change the deadline. If you can not change it, get help.

12. Do not assume. Do not guess or assume if you do not know something.

In the book Everyone’s a Coach by Ken Blanchard and Don Shula, there is an acronym that helps us think about how we’re doing as leaders.

C stands for Conviction-Driven: Do people understand what your values are and where you’re going? Because leadership is about going somewhere. Lead with conviction.

O stands for Overlearning: There’s no such thing as teaching a good thing too much. You want to prepare your people so much that they really know their responsibilities and they can make something good happen. 

A stands for Audible-Ready: Don’t get stuck with a plan if for some reason it’s not working. Let people bring their brains to work; let your kids use their brains, too. Be open to the thoughts of others. Be ready to change your mind if a new and better idea comes along.

C stands for Consistency: This isn’t about behaving in the same way all the time; it’s about behaving the same way in similar circumstances. Be consistent. Praise progress and cheer people on when they’re doing well. If there’s a problem, you can redirect them and get them back to their goals. 

H stands for Honesty-Based: This one is all about walking your values. Act with integrity at all times.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Are you leading with conviction? 
• Are you really trying to always do our best? 
• Are you adaptable and innovative and ready to change? 
• Are you consistent in  your behavior and are you walking your talk?  

The following are some key points from a talk that Andy Stanley gave at the Drive Conference entitled The Opposable Leader: Why organizational tension is essential to progress. 

The idea of this talk is that as a leader, you have to differentiate between tensions your organization will always manage vs. problems that need to be solved.

Every organization has problems that shouldn’t be solved and tensions that shouldn’t be resolved.

• For example: What’s more important, excellence or stewardship?
• If you “resolve” any of those tensions, you will create new tension.
• If you resolve any of those tensions, you create a barrier to progress.
• Progress depends not on the resolution of those tensions, but on the successful management of those tensions.

The role of leadership is to leverage the tension to the benefit of the organization.

• Identify the tensions to be managed in your organization.
• Create terminology. (Tension is something we manage not resolve.)
• Inform your core. (Teach your leaders.)
• Continually give value to both sides. (Example: excellence vs. stewardship)
• Don’t weigh in too heavily based on your personal biases.
• Don’t allow strong personalities to win the day.
• Don’t think in terms of balance. Think rhythm. (Balance is equal amounts all the time. Rhythm understands there is a season for everything.)

Check out these two new iPhone Apps that are sure to overload your brain with ministry knowledge.

1. Orange Leaders App - Orange Leaders is a gathering of leaders who are passionate about engaging churches and families to influence the faith and character of the next generation.

Here is what you can do on this app:

• Listen to free podcasts
• Read and comment on blog posts
• Keep up with current news and events
• Interact with all of the tweets coming from @OrangeLeaders
• Watch videos from their site
• You can even order books, CDs, and other resources!

2. Catalyst Leaders App - The core vision of Catalyst is to impact the next generation by shaping leaders in the Church.

Here is what you can do on this app:

• Read articles and follow the Catalyst blog.
• Listen to the Catalyst podcast
• View videos from Catalyst events
• Fully integrated with Twitter, Facebook, and email.