Together With

Good afternoon.  Yesterday we shared Part 1 of the system I use to realize true work-life balance as a senior living and SNF leader.  More simplistically, follow this plan to succeed as a leader without having to work over 40 hours each week to do it consistently.

Today, we dive into Part 2- Own your Calendar.

If you missed yesterday's edition of Part 1, check it out using the link below.

Part 1- Trim the Fat

Elevate your operation in less time.

Part 2- Own your Calendar

Whenever I encounter a leader struggling on any front, one of the first exercises I complete with them is setting boundaries with their calendar and how their time is scheduled.  The boundaries or rules are critical to achieving your role's essential functions daily.

Rule 1- Schedule rounding every day.  I set aside a block of 60 minutes every work day to round.  Based on my experience, 30 minutes or less isn't enough time and is too easy to skip, and any longer than 60 minutes daily cuts into other critical functions.

The time of day I round vary and is set on a reoccurring basis on my calendar.  For example, I round at 8:00 AM on Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:00 PM on Thursdays, and noon on Tuesdays and Fridays.  

Find a cadence that works for you and block it off your calendar.

Rule 2- Create a no meetings Wednesday.  Every Wednesday is blocked off on my calendar, except for my 8:00 AM rounding slot.  I do not allow anyone to schedule an appointment with me on Wednesdays outside of an emergency, which means an actual emergency.

I utilize Wednesdays to get my actual work done, reflect on the progress we've made, where we're stuck, and think strategically about where I stand compared to my long-term goals for my role and myself.

I choose Wednesdays because after I have time to level-set, I often need to realign my actions to the long-term goals, and there are still two days left in the week for me to act immediately.

Rule 3- Schedule and hold consistent 1:1's with direct reports.  Not monthly, not every other week.  They need to be weekly and consistent.  Set the expectation that 1:1's are mandatory, and the only reason to miss or reschedule is if you or your team members are off.  

As part of this rule, create an agenda template for your direct reports to complete and bring them to each 1:1 set with a recap from the prior week's meeting and documented next steps to review next week.

Stay tuned later this week as we dive into Part 3- Prioritizing what matters most.

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Together with Eversound

In addition to improving the quality of life for your residents, Eversound shows prospective residents and their family members that you will put their needs first.  Learn how Brightview Senior Living is leveraging Eversound to improve tour outcomes and conversions.

Grab your coffee and make it a great day.  We appreciate you and your dedication to your team and residents. -Thank you!