Many people think that being a CEO is fun. They see executives leading glamorous lives filled with vacations and family time while employees work hard. Reality couldn’t be more different. If you knew how many hours a CEO works, you would understand how demanding this job is.
Keep in mind that being a CEO is an all-consuming job. It’s not your typical 9 to 5 career. The CEO is always at work. He has so much to do. And most of the time he doesn’t have time. Studies have shown that some executives work almost 9.7 hours on a weekday. Not only that, they do business on weekends as well. Sounds boring, doesn’t it? And this is just the beginning.
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CEO Hours: What You Don’t Know
Most people think that once they reach the top of the stairs, they can rest easy. How hard is it to be a CEO? After all, they have a whole team working for them. All they have to do is delegate tasks and issue orders. This is a common perception.
But the truth is, CEOs have quite grueling schedules. They have a lot on their plate. From meeting with partners to visiting company offices and commuting, the responsibilities of a CEO are endless. Some executives even work 62.5 hours a week!
You might be wondering why CEOs have to work so hard. Well, because all partners want direct contact with the leading authority. Of course, they delegate many of their tasks, but leaders cannot delegate everything to others. They should spend enough time with their partners and investors.
At the same time, they must maintain constant communication with their team, which will provide them with the information they need to make important decisions. Travel is also an integral part of the life of a CEO. No company is run solely from headquarters.
Busting the 9-5 hour myth for executives
There is hardly a CEO who works only 8 hours. And this is understandable. It takes a lot to run a company. Elon Musk has often talked about his busy work schedule. Many other entrepreneurial celebrities have also revealed how difficult it is for them to find time for anything other than work.
On average, executives work 39 hours a week. During this time, they have to hold meetings in person, spend time with employees, meet outsiders, and so on.
Yes, it is certainly impressive when you reach the CEO position. You are immensely proud of your achievement. But for the sake of this elite title, something has to be sacrificed. CEOs have almost no free time. They struggle to plan their leisure time and have to plan even things that should be spontaneous.
How do leaders manage their time?
You must be wondering this now. After all, if they work so many hours, how do they manage to do it all?
Planning a week ahead
Usually on weekends, executives set aside time to plan the entire week. This helps them maintain a work-life balance and ensures that nothing is left out.
Meeting scheduling
While scheduling meetings is essential, it’s also important to take the time to strategize for the day. Otherwise, the meeting will be a waste of time. Thus, leaders need to prepare the meeting agenda in advance, which helps them save valuable time.
In addition, most executives consider it essential to have a buffer between successive meetings. This prevents them from burning out.
Don’t get confused by emails
Yes, you will soon find that most executives avoid email as much as possible. They prefer live communication. This is because emails interrupt the workflow and waste valuable time.
Focus on the agenda
Yes, CEOs work long hours, and that’s because they have a lot of work to do. Prioritizing tasks can be a daunting task when there is so much to keep track of. So managers keep calendars to keep everything organized.
Keep routine duties to a minimum
Managers hardly have time to handle all the responsibilities on their own. Thus, they prioritize and decide what actions are needed and can be delegated. This allows them to plan their day more effectively.
It is important to make time for personal well-being
No wonder so many leaders suffer from stress. They have almost no time for themselves, and this takes a toll on their mental health. But it’s important to remember that if you’re unhealthy, your work will eventually suffer as well. So executives set aside time in their busy schedules for self-care. They meditate and think of new ways to let off steam.
In addition, executives such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett find it necessary to get enough sleep. Indeed, they usually get eight hours of sleep to stay energized the next day.
Evaluation of working hours and efforts of the CEO
Usually people think that just because someone is in a high position in power, they must have an easy day. But keep in mind that running a business is quite a challenge. And the CEO never rests. Many executives keep in touch with their supervisors even while on vacation. This is undoubtedly a respected position, but it also requires a lot from you.
