Hey Inner Circle readers!

I asked the Women in Retail Leadership Circle’s fabulous members (through our members-only Online Forum) if they have any day-to-day time management hacks they use to keep themselves on track. Well, I got some great replies, and lucky for us, our members have agreed to let me share their tips with you! Please find the time (see what I did there?) to read them below!

Jeannie Barsam, Founder, Gifting Brands
I love Trello, a web-based project management application that’s free and so easy to use. It also syncs with your phone, so for those late-night ideas that pop into your head, you can jot them down! Check out this YouTube video that explains how to use Trello. I’ve tried many other apps, and I like this one the best!

Sheryl Clark, President, Beyond Proper by Boston Proper
For me, I’m very ADD about my emails and my calendar. I use every free minute to clear my emails throughout the day and start with an empty email list every day (or virtually empty). I have an organized system and am very concise in my answers. When I’m waiting for a meeting to start, I’m always checking and clearing my emails, but then I stop and pay full attention once the meeting gets underway. If there’s a break in the meeting, I go back and read/answer/clear my emails. Between categories, while my team sets up, I’m on my email. I also do it one last time before bed and once before work in the morning. I delete most emails from solicitors, vendors I don’t know, etc. I’m also an earlier-to-work girl so I always have at least one hour to two hours in the office to get stuff done. My busy days start with meetings at 9:30 and end with meetings at 4:30, so I have about two hours every morning without many people around to get stuff done.

I keep the teams very, very focused, and communicate so we’re all aware of priorities and deliverables. I’ve trained my team that they need to collect specific issues (such as updates on budgets, upcoming travel, what they specifically need from me) and review with me in our once-a-week touch base meeting, and email is for quick and easy one-liner direction or solves. Otherwise come talk to me in person.

I control my calendar so that I don’t have overlapping meetings, and I book time when I have a project or work to do like board of directors meeting prep or town hall prep or time to review selling. People know they can’t schedule over that. Everyone has access to my calendar. I’m very organized and that helps with time management. The bad part is I often wake up and think of things and send emails at 3:00 a.m., but my team knows I’m not looking for answers, but rather just sharing an issue or thought.

I don’t think any of this is revolutionary, but it works for me!

I look at my job as 24/7, so the work/home blends, but it’s not intrusive — especially now that we’re empty nesters.

Cindy Marshall, Founder and CEO, SHINE Strategy

  1. Review emails three times a day — first thing, lunch time and end of day. Stop looking at email all day long; it’s distracting.
  2. Listen to podcasts on commutes. They’re a great way to learn!
  3. Take time for yourself first thing in the morning to write your personal and business “to do list.”

Do you have any time management tips or best practices you would like to share? Please drop me a line at mcampanelli@napco.com.