Time, stress, performance: the OPL method for regaining control

Can you introduce yourself and explain your business? 

A scientist by training, I've been working for over ten years in the development of cardiovascular medical devices. In 2021, I discovered coaching and fell in love with the profession. I began a series of training courses (basic and advanced level, IDC and ICF professional certification, in-company coaching) and became an independent professional coach in 2023. My speciality is time management. I help managers (executives, entrepreneurs, freelancers, strategic positions) to understand their relationship with time so that they can better manage their professional and personal priorities, their teams and their stress. Not to do more, but to do what's essential with the desired level of quality and inner state.

What do you think are the main mistakes that managers and executives make in managing their priorities on a day-to-day basis?

What I observe in my practice is that people in positions of responsibility tend to accept all requests in the hope that the - real - work overload will reduce over time. This is the trap: the pile tends to grow. The main consequence is a focus on the most urgent priorities, which leads to two distinct problems: (1) day-to-day stress, which has a direct impact on the body and on relationships with others, whether professional or not, and (2) a lack of investment, and therefore of progress, in important long-term projects, which directly jeopardises the survival of a team, a department or a company.

Three other common pitfalls are difficulty in delegating important tasks; inability to refuse, or question, any additional requests; and reluctance to admit a difficult situation and ask for help.

How can you reconcile professional performance and work/life balance without overloading yourself or spreading yourself too thin?

From my point of view, there is no universal answer. Each person can have a balance that suits them (or several of them) and this evolves with us. It's important to take the time to set three things: objectives, priorities and limits (O-P-L).

Objectives are the directions to follow and priorities the means to achieve them.
Listing and prioritising your priorities, both personal and professional, is vital because it allows you to focus on what really matters. Where our attention goes, our energy goes. Coupled with the objective, it's a permanent compass. When in doubt, we stop, analyse and adjust.
Lastly, limits are essential if we are not to lose focus or forget a priority. «What is the line I don't want to cross? A well-defined framework is reassuring, because it reduces uncertainty and therefore stress, slows down dispersion (leaving the framework) and prevents overload (enlarging the framework). I recommend regularly setting your own limits: working hours, working at home, sleeping hours, minimum leisure or family time, etc. One trick is to design your ideal day or week, with the time you want for each activity, independently of the others. When you do this exercise for the first time, the sum is rarely less than the actual time available... It's an excellent basis for establishing your limits.

What role do stress and emotions play in our relationship with time, and how can we regulate them more effectively to improve efficiency?

Stress, which is physiologically associated with a spike in cortisol, is generally a symptom of fear of what might happen. We stress because we anticipate a problem whose realisation would provoke negative emotions that we don't like to feel. Here are three common fears that cause stress:

(1) Visible failure: «I won't make it in time»; ;
(2) Take responsibility: «If I'm wrong, the consequences are enormous»; ;
(3) Choose (so delete): «I've got too many things, I don't know where to start!»

There are, of course, many others. The most important thing is to identify the source by asking yourself questions like: «Why am I stressed?», «What really bothers me if this happens? Once you've identified the problem, it's easier to rationalise and act accordingly. For example, in case (1), is it better to deliver a good quality result but late, or on time but imperfect? Often, the answer comes naturally or can be clarified with the client. Result: you remove a source of stress. If there are several layers, you can peel back the stress like an onion until you get to the heart of it.

In demanding environments (complex projects, transformations, high pressure), what concrete practices do you recommend to regain control of your time and your impact?

There's no magic formula (you'd think!), but I'm convinced that each person can develop a time management approach that suits them and that they want to apply. There are many laws, theories and methods of time management. Some concepts are relevant in a specific situation, but they should not be applied by default. If the rule comes from us, the impact is much stronger.

My advice is to start with the basics: objectives and priorities. An objective must be precise, achievable, inspiring, measurable and set in time. During a coaching session, people are sometimes unclear about what they want, and using a tool can help them to identify the main areas. Next, it's important to list your priorities (4 to 6 at most), then your limits (minimum and/or maximum). Here again, there are specific coaching tools for priorities and limits. If this O-P-L (Objectives-Priorities-Limits) framework is put into practice, monitored and adjusted regularly, time management will gradually improve.

It's worth noting that an overly rigid framework isn't right for everyone, and that we sometimes need to be creative to create O-P-Ls that suit us.

The fourth dimension, which is more philosophical and underpins the OPLs, is the Personal Relationship to Time (PRT). In other words, «What does time mean to me? This central element is directly linked to our identity and our core values. It's an in-depth look at ourselves that enables us to give meaning to the time management we put in place.

Even if it is possible to make progress on your own, calling in a specialist is a real shortcut, because the change process is accelerated, we receive feedback, blind spots are highlighted and motivation and commitment are boosted. Yes, there is a price. But how much are years of lost time and the consequences of daily stress worth?