Working in a start-up or fast-growth business is a whirlwind experience. The pace is exhilarating, but it can often lead to a workday that feels more reactive than proactive. It's all too easy to get caught up in the immediacy of 'fire-fighting' and lose sight of the bigger picture.

But success in these roles isn't just about responding to the urgent; it's about carving out time for strategic planning and personal growth through self-study.

After all, developing your skills through self-study is an integral part of career progression, particularly for those aspiring to leadership roles like CFO.

Here's a structured approach to managing your day that accommodates not only your immediate tasks but also the crucial self-study you need to grow.

Morning: Meeting Momentum

Just as I found back-to-back meetings effective in the mornings, consider using this time to align with your team and stakeholders.

This leaves the rest of your day free for focused work and self-study.

Trial and error different structures to out what works for you.  I personally prefer all meetings in the morning and my calendar allows for this as then I block out my afternoons.  Only occasionally will I take a meeting in the afternoon.  I block all afternoons out in the future as well to allow for this.  Consider how you prefer to work and future date this structure.

Lunchtime: Learning Break

Use a part of your lunch break for self-study. Even a short 15-minute session spent on a targeted learning goal can accumulate significantly over time. This could be reading an article, listening to a podcast, or going through a lesson in a finance course.

It can even be just reading 5 pages a day in a business book.  All book recommendations I have made are via this method - I read 5 pages a day around midday.  I am currently reading "Mindset".

Afternoon: Work and Study Blocks

Reserve your afternoons for deep work.

Divide this time into blocks dedicated to specific tasks, planning time and self-study.

For example, allocate an hour to work on a financial model, followed by a 30-minute self-study block focusing on a particular aspect of financial management.  Then another hour working out a communication & deadline plan to the leadership team and heads of for this financial model.

If you take a look at your calendar for this week (and maybe next week) - you probably cannot find any time in your calendar to dedicate towards this. 

However, what about in 3 weeks time?  I would say, yes!?

So book this in for 3 weeks time and make it recurring, so you don't have to think of finding time again.

If you find focusing a challenge - try Pomodoro.  It's a great tool that I use when my mind is a little scattered.  You can download timers on your phone or online.  

Self-Study Integration

Incorporating self-study into your daily routine means treating it with the same importance as any other business task. 

All good leaders never stop learning....

Delegating for Time

Delegation isn't just about efficiency; it's about creating space for "thinking & planning time" (which is a must for ALL leaders) & self-study.

Assess tasks that can be handled by your team and use the freed-up time to focus on areas of planning & learning that will aid your journey to becoming a CFO.

I like to use either the free tool "Kanban Flow" or "Trello" to manage my team's tasks.

The Clever Fox Approach

An offline journal like Clever Fox can be a valuable tool for those who prefer a tactile approach to planning. Use it to jot down your weekly self-study goals alongside your work tasks that must get done.

By structuring your day to include self-study, you're not just maintaining productivity; you're actively investing in your career progression.

Becoming a CFO starts with building a foundation of knowledge and skills long before you step into the role.

Links:

1. Try our Quiz!  Financial Leadership Foundations Scorecard.  
2. Join our next Workshop on the FLF Framework.
3. Work with me in the Financial Leadership Foundations course  that includes monthly Q&A sessions where we can discuss all of your questions and how to apply your learnings to your current role.