Jan Lehman is an executive coach and the owner of CTC Productivity in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Lehman says her top tips for executives are to block out dedicated focus time, have a three daily priorities, and use 'do not disturb' mode when you need to get something done.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more storiesSince I began my business 11 years ago, I've helped numerous CEOs and executives increase their personal productivity and improve their business' bottom line.
Even as a home organizer, it was clear I had a knack for understanding people's issues, recognizing an opportunity for improvement, and helping them transform their behavior. My first large corporate client was Martin Ambros in 2011. He's an inventor who worked at Boeing before starting his own business — a brilliant, amazing guy who was really struggling with his personal productivity.
I eat breakfast around 10 a.m., and then go back to work to meet with clients, connect with my team, make sales calls, and more. I make a point of using each day of the week wisely. For example, I know that I can read on a Saturday morning, but I can't reach out to a client or make sales calls on a weekend.
During our first call, I ask a lot of questions to understand what resources are available, uncover waste, and determine where they can be more efficient. I typically spot the issues quickly. I toss out a bunch of ideas that I think will work for their situation, but I don't force them to do what I say. We review my ideas and they decide which ones they will commit to work on over the next month. I call this "homework.