Note: On Thursday, April 26th, the National Association of Mothers’ Centers will be hosting a webinar presented by author Shar McBee as part of their Webinar Series entitled: The Joy of Leadership: How to Attract and Keep Volunteers. It was through this topic that I was inspired, as both a parent and a volunteer, to reflect on how I judge what TO and what NOT TO dedicate my own very precious gift of time to.
Multitasking.
If I had to wrap up my day in one word, this would be it.
My day often consists of doing too many things at the same time. I am generally okay with this if what I am doing consists of things that I am passionate about. But sometimes it wears me out.
Breaking up sibling arguments, helping out at our children’s school, working inside and outside of the home both to make a living and as a volunteer are just normal occurrences within a day in the life a multitasking mother. It seems that there is always someone or something vying for our time whether it is school-related, community-related, or workplace related…
And it is the enormous amount of things vying for our time each and every day, that typically makes us parents incredibly efficient multitaskers.
A Penny for your Time?
The excessive amount of important things fighting for my time is also why I place a lot of value on the time that I do have.
I am constantly juggling my day so that it has as good a mix as possible between work, family and me time. Sometimes, finding where to draw the line and what is a good use of my time is hard.
How do you know where and when to draw the line as a volunteer, a community member and/or an employee when you are a parent? As a multitasking mother myself, there are a few things I am consistently evaluating before committing my time and energy to any project.
1. Flexibility
I often judge a project’s ability to fit in my life by first determining if those I will be collaborating with recognize and value my individual priorities. They don’t necessarily need to agree with and understand my priorities, but they do need to value and recognize them. Flexibility is key.
Obviously the goals of any task I agree to take on are important. Yet dealing with sick kiddos, family emergencies, and personal mishaps occasionally take precedence. Lack of flexibility is a deal breaker for me.
Key Point: I am less likely to take on any project (be it volunteer or paid) if I feel someone has a low tolerance for flexibility.
2. Clear and Defined Expectations
In order to successfully accomplish something everyone has to be on the same page. If not, then most likely - I’ve just wasted my time. It is important to me, as a volunteer or employee, that I know what is expected of me when I sign-up for something. One of the most frustrating things in the world to me is to feel as though my valuable time was misused or wasted.
Key Point: Having clear expectations helps me to understand up front both what I am getting into and how to better utilize my time.
3. The “Micromanagement Factor”
I always welcome guidance which may assist me in not “recreating the wheel” when I take on any task. With that being said, as long as I have a good understanding of my expectations and I accomplish my task in the time expected, why should someone care how exactly I got from point a to point b? Feeling micromanaged can drive me absolutely cra-aaazz-zy!
Key Point: In my book, a good leader recognizes that sometimes you can lead better by simply leading less and by empowering others.
4. Value and Appreciation
As a volunteer and an employee I am much more likely to continue volunteering and working for someone who doesn’t waste my time and who also makes me feel appreciated. I consider my time - my gift to give. And just like any other gift you might receive, it is only good manners to say thank you. If someone shows me in any small way that they appreciated my hard work, I am twice as likely to help them again next time I’m asked.
Key Point: Never underestimate the significance of a simple thank you.
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With so many things vying for our time, learning to multitask and pick projects that make the best use of our time as a parent and an individual is more then just important, it’s essential!
As a busy mother of three I strive to be both a good leader (when leadership calls) and a good follower (when a leader is already present). Being able to successfully lead AND follow is important as well as one last essential key ingredient:
Knowing when to say no when something is not a good fit in your current life situation.
(And this last one I still haven’t quite mastered… All in good time, right?)
Leave a Comment: How do you make sure what you choose to do in your day is worth the time it might take away from your free time and your family?
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I did enjoy this post! I found that I recognized myself in some of what you were saying. Especially the part about knowing when to say, “no”. I have a really hard time with that one!
Knowing when to say no is the hardest one I think…
“Lack of flexibility is a deal breaker for me.” It’s unfortunate how our relationships outside of our families become more about convenience than anything else. Can’t say I disagree, we’re all guilty of it.
We all have to make choices and distinguish our own priorities. For me, the ability for others to be flexible with how I choose to use my time makes me (I feel) more productive at the tasks I choose to take on (primarily, I think, because it helps to pull down my overall stress level). For me, convenience is not something to feel guilty about - but a way to be more productive!
I would love for you to expand on your comment Emily. You make a very interesting point. Do you see flexibility as a convenience that takes away from your capabilities to contribute to a task?