Mastering Time Management in a Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE)

by | May 5, 2025 | business growth, Leadership, Mastery, Productivity, Remote Office Management, ROWE, Time Management, working from home, working remotely

advantage of hiring virtual assistanceAs the modern workplace continues to evolve, embracing a Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE) can significantly impact employee productivity and satisfaction. To fully realize the benefits of ROWE, effective time management is crucial. In this eighth installment of our blog series on ROWE, we’ll explore tips, techniques, tools, and resources to help you prioritize tasks, manage workload, and overcome common challenges in a ROWE setting.

Tips and Techniques for Prioritizing Tasks and Managing Workload

  1. Set clear goals and objectives: Identify your key tasks and projects and establish measurable goals to guide your efforts. Align these objectives with your organization’s broader mission to maintain focus and motivation. Utilize the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goal framework to ensure your goals are well-defined and actionable.
  2. Prioritize and plan: Organize your tasks based on their urgency and importance. Use the Eisenhower Matrix to effectively allocate time and resources to each task. Plan your day or week ahead to optimize efficiency and avoid procrastination. Additionally, consider implementing the ABCDE method by assigning priority levels (A being the highest priority, E being the lowest) to help you focus on the most critical tasks first.
  3. Break large tasks into smaller, manageable components: Divide complex projects into actionable steps to streamline your workflow and create a sense of progress. This technique not only helps you stay focused but also allows you to better track your progress and make necessary adjustments as needed.
  4. Use time-blocking: Allocate specific time slots for focused work on high-priority tasks. This technique reduces distractions and helps maintain concentration. Consider experimenting with different time-blocking schedules, such as the 52-17 rule (52 minutes of focused work followed by a 17-minute break) or the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break).
  5. Delegate and collaborate: If possible, delegate tasks to team members or colleagues with the appropriate skills and availability. Collaborate with others to share knowledge, divide responsibilities, and tap into collective expertise. Effective delegation not only ensures tasks are completed efficiently but also promotes a sense of camaraderie and shared responsibility within the team.

Tools and Resources to Support Time Management

  1. Project management software: Tools like Trello, Asana, or Jira help you organize, prioritize, and track tasks effectively. Utilize the various features offered by these platforms, such as task dependencies, project milestones, and real-time progress tracking, to optimize your workflow and stay on top of deadlines.
  2. Time tracking apps: Apps like RescueTime or Toggl help monitor your time usage, identify inefficiencies, and optimize your workflow. Use the data gathered from these apps to fine-tune your time management strategies and focus on areas that require improvement.
  3. Productivity techniques: Techniques like the Pomodoro Technique or the GTD (Getting Things Done) method can improve focus and streamline task completion. Experiment with different techniques to find the one that best suits your work style and preferences.
  4. Email management tools: Software like Boomerang or Sanebox helps reduce email clutter and enables you to handle communication more effectively. Explore the various features of these tools, such as automated follow-up reminders or intelligent email prioritization, to save time and energy when managing your inbox.
  5. Digital calendars and reminders: Platforms like Google Calendar, Outlook, or Todoist help schedule tasks, set reminders, and manage deadlines. Maximize the functionality of these tools by integrating them with other apps, such as project management software, to ensure seamless synchronization and easy access to all your time management resources.

Overcoming Common Challenges and Pitfalls

  1. Procrastination: Identify the reasons behind procrastination, such as fear of failure or lack of motivation, and address them accordingly. Set achievable goals, create a conducive work environment, and focus on the task at hand. Additionally, try the “Eat the Frog” method by tackling your most challenging or least favorite task first thing in the morning to build momentum and a sense of accomplishment for the rest of the day.
  2. Distractions: Minimize interruptions by setting boundaries and scheduling dedicated time for focused work. Use noise-cancelling headphones, turn off notifications, or use apps like Focus@Will to maintain concentration. Experiment with different techniques to find the most effective methods for eliminating distractions and staying focused.
  3. Perfectionism: Avoid being a perfectionist by setting realistic expectations, learning from mistakes, and maintaining a growth mindset.

Implementing ROWE in Your Organization – A Comprehensive Roadmap to Success

by | Mar 24, 2025 | business growth, Leadership, life work balance, Outsourcing, Productivity, Remote Office Management, ROWE, Time Management, working from home, working remotely

OFFICE SUPPORT SECRETARIAT SERVICESAs organizations navigate the ever-evolving work landscape, the Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE) emerges as a powerful strategy for promoting flexibility and driving productivity. In this seventh installment of our blog series on ROWE, we’ll delve into the step-by-step process of implementing ROWE in your organization, addressing key considerations, best practices, and potential challenges along the way.

Laying the Foundation for ROWE Implementation

  1. Assess Your Current Work Environment: Before diving into the ROWE transition, it’s essential to evaluate your organization’s existing work culture, policies, and practices. This assessment helps identify areas that require change and provides a clear understanding of the current state of your work environment. Consider using surveys, interviews, or focus groups to gather feedback from employees at all levels.
  2. Develop a Strategic Plan: To ensure a smooth transition, create a comprehensive roadmap for your organization’s journey to ROWE. This plan should outline specific goals, timelines, and milestones. Involve stakeholders, including employees, managers, and leadership, to foster buy-in and commitment. Regularly review and update the plan as needed to address emerging challenges or opportunities.
  3. Communicate Effectively: Clear and consistent communication is vital for any successful organizational change. Articulate the reasons for adopting ROWE, its benefits, and what it means for employees. Address concerns, answer questions, and provide support throughout the transition process. Utilize multiple channels, such as town hall meetings, emails, or internal communication platforms, to ensure everyone stays informed.

Putting ROWE into Action

  1. Establish Clear Expectations and Guidelines: Define roles and responsibilities, set performance metrics, and ensure that employees understand the expectations in a ROWE environment. This clarity helps to alleviate concerns and empowers employees to take ownership of their work. Regularly review and adjust expectations based on feedback and evolving organizational needs.
  2. Provide Training and Support: To equip employees and managers with the skills needed to succeed in a ROWE environment, offer comprehensive training programs. These may include workshops, online courses, or mentorship opportunities. Provide ongoing support and resources, such as a dedicated internal communication channel or a ROWE-focused knowledge hub, to address questions and share best practices.
  3. Implement Gradually and Monitor Progress: Rather than a sudden, organization-wide shift, roll out the ROWE model incrementally. Start with a pilot program or department to test the new approach and gather valuable insights. Regularly evaluate the impact on productivity, employee satisfaction, and other key performance indicators to make data-driven adjustments and refine the ROWE implementation strategy.
  4. Address Challenges and Resistance to Change: Be prepared to address concerns, misconceptions, and potential resistance from employees or management. Maintain open communication, transparency, and ongoing support to overcome these challenges. Proactively share success stories and case studies to demonstrate the benefits of ROWE and build confidence in the new approach.

Embracing a Results-Only Work Environment can yield numerous benefits for your organization, including increased employee engagement and productivity, improved work-life balance, and enhanced trust and autonomy in the workplace. By carefully planning, communicating effectively, and addressing potential challenges, you can create a smooth transition to ROWE that benefits both your organization and its employees.

Stay tuned for the next post in our ROWE series as we dive deeper into best practices for managing remote teams in a Results-Only Work Environment.

The High Price of ‘Doing the Paperwork’

by | Aug 13, 2023 | Business, business growth, Customer relationships, Leadership, Marketing, Mastery, office management, Outsourcing, Productivity, Team Work, Time Management, Virtual Assistant, working from home, working remotely

When you think of the most expensive admin assistant on the Planet, you might think of someone like Tony Stark’s assistant who puts up with all his quirks, but who is handsomely paid for her hardship. Or a billionaire’s assistant who is available 24/7 and at a moment’s notice may be called upon to drop everything and jump on a plane to Tokyo to attend meetings with their boss. You might think that…… and you would be wrong.

YOU.. yes.. you… are the most expensive admin assistant on the planet.

How can this be true? It’s because studies show that administrative tasks take up as much as 25% of an organization’s time.

So, what does this mean? Before we even talk about the dollar cost of this truth let’s talk about time. As a business owner, working a very conservative 60 hours a week, this equates to 15 hours per week. Which may not seem like that much, but how about when we look at the annual cost of this truth?

720 HOURS per year the average business owner spends on administrative tasks, that’s THREE MONTHS!  Take that 720 hours and multiply by your client charge out rate.  Not only is that a lot of money for doing back-office work that you shouldn’t be doing in the first place, it’s also money you haven’t billed because you’ve been doing “the paperwork”.  If you outsourced these tasks alone at a much lower rate (hopefully) than you bill your clients, just think what you could do with an extra three month’s worth of time and a whole lot of extra money every year!!!

  • How could your organization grow?
  • What activities could you do with your family?
  • How could you invest in your network and members?
  • How could you serve your community?

If you have ever thought, “if only I had more time…” (you know that’s just an excuse, right?!?) and yet repeatedly find yourself burning the midnight oil filing invoices, inputting information into a database, updating your social media (or wishing you had time for social media)…

Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day so why not change things up and use those hours to full advantage?

Managing a Changing Environment

by | Feb 26, 2023 | Leadership, Mastery, Productivity, Time Management, Uncategorized, working from home, working remotely

Over the past several years the physical landscape of the traditional office space has changed to evolve and promote productivity of its workers. Ergonomics assessments, increasing natural lighting and working with flexible schedules are examples of changes that have helped in this regard, but what if your employees are finding they are more productive outside of the office environment?

While some companies have successfully integrated the ability for workers to work from home where feasible and as shown in this Globe and Mail article,(dated 2017) some managers and leaders find it challenging to manage workers that are not located on the company’s site. Many times, there is a trust issue between management and employees or hired virtual workers that need to be dealt with to allow a successful off-site arrangement to work.  These issues are as relevant today as they were when remote working was becoming more commonplace.

A common question that we hear is “How will I know if the work is being done right, or being done at all?”

The simple answer: Outcomes and Results.

The proof is in the pudding as they say.  This may be accomplished by setting goals for the day, week, and month for the off-site worker to meet and if actual time worked is a concern, the worker can submit a weekly time sheet either manually, or using time tracking software online.

For the most part, when an off-site worker is trusted they may feel more invested in a company that understands the importance of working off-site and may want to have their best work shine through in those results and outcomes. So if you’re on the fence about off-site work, here are just a few benefits to this way of working:

  1. Your very valuable time. The day of a manager or leader can be packed,with all employees in the office valuable time is taken by “doing the rounds” to check and see what everyone is up to, but is there a value in this?
  2. Workers that have opted for off-site work tend to be more productive, as there may be things within the office environment they find distracting or may just work at a different pace and timeline than what has been established as the norm.
  3. Workers that have opted for off-site work and have been given the opportunity to do so may have greater respect for those they are working for, as they may feel they are being understood.
  4. Many off-site workers tend to find a better balance of their social commitments and work with less absenteeism.
  5. Communications with your off-site worker are as simple as picking up the phone, sending an instant message, sending an email, or starting a Skype conversation.

Remember though that remote working isn’t for everyone!  Some people are their most productive working on their own in peace and quiet (like yours truly).  Other people need a place to go every day and work well with interruptions and face-to-face interactions.  Either way, in today’s information society it still comes down to outcomes and results however, working remotely allows for much more autonomy for the responsible human to provide the results on the due date without management knowing when the work was actually done.

Excuse me, you have a little something in your teeth…

by | Oct 23, 2022 | Business, business growth, Leadership, Marketing, Mastery, office management, Productivity, Remote Office Management, Time Management, Virtual Assistant, working from home, working remotely

small business goal settingHave you ever come out of a meeting, or the end of day and caught yourself in a mirror and realized that you have a piece of schmutz in your teeth, or your cow-lick is asserting its personality again?  We have all had that moment when we think “WHY DIDN’T SOMEONE TELL ME?”

As small business owners we can spend so much time in the tasks that we forget what our goals are.  If only gauging how well we are running our business is as simple as looking in the mirror!  When it comes to taking your business to the next level, a level of self-awareness is required to assess the needs of your business and how your management style can be maximized for growth.

Take a look at your business and your strengths and values (and be honest about it!). Determine what makes sense for you to do and what is reasonable for someone else to take care of.

To identify exactly what you need, do the following for one work-week:

  1. As you go through each workday, write down the daily tasks that you dislike doing (or, put another way, make a list of the things you do last because you keep putting them off)
  2. Write down all the projects you’ve “had on the back burner”; those projects and tasks that never seem to get done week after week, month after month.
  3. Write down all the things you spend too much time doing (why are you really in the office all the time?).
  4. Write down all the things you wish you had more time to do.
  5. Write down all the tasks you must do as a business owner.

Ask people you know to work through this with you as they may provide a different perspective. There might be metaphorical spinach in your teeth that they are begging for the chance to tell you about!

Don’t think about how much it will cost or how long to get these resources in place.  Just think about you for now and ask yourself what you need to do in order to move your business forward.

Need help?  Click here to get my free e-book to help you gain clarity.