We can’t plan a meeting like this anymore, can we?
In trainings, people often react somewhat surprised when I explain to them that you have to plan your own work in the agenda. “Then the whole agenda will be full and we won’t be able to plan a meeting, will we?” If we then look in the planning, many participants’ agendas are rammed with appointments. So-called back-to-back meetings in which appointments are stacked like Tetris are no exception. Especially for managers, sales profiles and entrepreneurs, it is impossible to keep track of them. It is then not so strange that their own work gets stuck and mail piles up. The solution is as simple as it is difficult: take more space for yourself.
Surely that is antisocial
It often feels antisocial and unnatural to many, taking space for yourself. By that I don’t mean taking space to stare at the ceiling (although if that calms you down…), but taking space for your own work, keeping up with emails, doing the paperwork and quietly maintaining
Help I am a pleaser
As a recovering pleaser, this is still difficult for me, but it’s getting better. Including blocks of my own work and keeping at least half an hour of processing time between each appointment creates a breathing agenda. One to two appointments in a day are more than enough for me. Four coaching calls in a day are intense. I need ample processing time to clear my attention residue.
Training participants would like to learn to say no to others. However, it also has to do with bounding yourself by not impulsively going along with appointments that don’t fit. It is enough to say: I have an appointment (with myself).
Are you struggling to limit yourself?
Make a no-obligation appointment for an introductory meeting.
