Great education leaders know that time is their most valuable possession. Contrary to popular belief, it is not money, material possessions, etc. Time is one of those things that you can get back, no matter how hard you try. It’s just impossible. Unfortunately, most professionals do a poor job of managing their time, and it affects their lives in a myriad of ways. As leaders, they find it difficult to properly manage their teams and organizations, and outside of work, it makes it difficult to nurture and develop relationships.

How to maximize your time

Education leaders need to know how to schedule their time by knowing when and where to spend it; on yourself, your colleagues, and family/friends. They prioritize things that are important and table things that can wait for later. This doesn’t mean that they are not proactive, it just means that they are not burning themselves out by trying to be superhuman. They realize that the work will never be done, and when you finish one task, another one jumps into the queue.

So do yourself a favor and use your time wisely, and hold it in reverence. It truly is your most valuable possession, as many people would hand over all of their possessions for more of it. As an education leader, you can use your time to help serve others, but don’t forget to take a little to relax.

Concluding thoughts

Here is a pro-tip, when making decisions concerning time management, if applicable, always consider the opportunity cost of each possible alternative. What is the definition of opportunity cost? An opportunity cost is the consequence of a missed opportunity. This is usually explained in terms of money, but it may also be conveyed in terms of time, or any other resource. Using the concept of opportunity cost has helped me to be more productive and efficient, which allows me to make more money and have more free time for family and friends.