The truth about time management

Every minute you spend on low-value work costs you opportunities you can’t get back. That is why BELAY exists: to help leaders like you get back to what matters.

Our Delegation Guide + Worksheet gives you a simple system to:
✓ Identify what to delegate
✓ Prioritize what’s costing you most
✓ Hand it off strategically

And when you’re ready, BELAY provides top-tier remote staffing solutions — U.S.-based, highly vetted, and personally matched — to help you put those hours back where they belong: fueling strategy, leadership, and growth.

Real freedom starts with a right partner.

Get BELAY’s Delegation Guide.

Time management is essential for career coaching clients.

Without it, their job search or career transition often becomes a stop-start process with unpredictable outcomes.

We emphasize the importance of prioritizing and organization to our clients all the time. But when was the last time we looked at our own calendars and asked, “Am I living what I teach?”

If you’re like most career practitioners I know, your week is a juggling act of client sessions, admin, emails, and the ever-present “I’ll work on my brand later.”

I’ve been there. 

For years, I ran on to-do lists and coffee. Then I realized the irony: we tell clients to set goals and make time for growth, yet many of us are running on reaction, not intention.

This week’s newsletter is a reminder of why time management is non-negotiable for us, and what deserves protected space on your calendar every week.

Productivity is about doing more in less time. 

Strong time management is about aligning your calendar with the right actions that strengthen your capability as a coach and improve the outcomes for your clients.

When we manage time intentionally:

Without it, even the best coaches end up reactive and resentful.

Clients expect us to stay current on labor market shifts, new tools, and evolving coaching practices.

That doesn’t happen by accident.

Even one focused hour a day (or a few each week) compounds over time. This can include reading workforce data, exploring new coaching tools, or learning from other professionals who share insights online.

Consistent learning keeps your coaching relevant and impactful.

 [Check out my recent post on career podcasts as a learning outlet for coaches] 

It’s easy to push this off. “I’ll post next week” turns into months of silence.

But our visibility is our credibility.

If we want clients to build strong brands, we need one ourselves. How can we encourage clients to be proactive on LinkedIn if we’re not practicing what we preach?

I’m not talking about posting seven times a week. A short post, a thoughtful comment, or sharing a useful resource all count as activity.

[Read this post on defining career identity] 

Call it sales, networking, or pipeline. Either way, it all comes down to connection.

The relationships you build keep your practice sustainable and your opportunities flowing.

 [See recent series on building relationships] 

Admittedly, this is the piece I’m still working on, but it’s so important.

We’re great at year-end goal setting, but less consistent with daily or weekly reflection.

Even five quiet minutes to note what worked, what drained you, and what you’re grateful for can reset your focus and keep you aligned with your bigger goals.

[Check out my post on owning your story] 

For me, time management is about professional integrity. 

If we want clients to design careers that feel intentional, we have to model what that looks like in our own practice.

Our own grown matters as much as our clients’. 

Those time-blocked hours might not generate immediate outcomes, but the growth will compound over time. 

And yes, it takes discipline. There will always be one more client need, one more email, one more “urgent” task.

But that’s the point. 

We teach clients to set boundaries around what matters most. We owe ourselves the same respect.

Your clients don’t just listen to what you say.

They watch how you work.

Heather

The Coach for Career Coaches 

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