Peter Drucker's advice to executives was simple: before you manage your time, find out where it actually goes.
Most senior leaders who try it are surprised.
The week fills itself. Regional calls. Internal reviews. Reports. Meetings about meetings. By Thursday, the country manager has spent more time with slides than with customers.
When I look at a week, I think of it in four parts:
Customers. Doctors, pharmacists, hospitals and distributors, met in person. This tells me whether I still know my market first-hand.
People. Coaching my managers and growing the people who could one day do my job.
The few big decisions. Portfolio, resources, launches, key hires. The things only a country manager can decide.
Internal meetings. Necessary, but they expand to fill whatever space you give them.
What helps in my experience: look back at a normal month and see where the hours really went. Book customer time and people time first. And every quarter, shorten or stop one recurring meeting.
“Your calendar shows your real priorities, whatever the plan says.”
Lesson 14 of 15 in Step 7: Leading the leadership team, with the full guide and a checklist for this week.