Day 6: Ask to reschedule meetings that don't work for you
Your calendar is your most valuable resource. Start treating it like one.
๐๐๐ธ ๐๐ผ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐น๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป'๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐.
Whether it conflicts with deep work, personal commitments, or just doesnโt match your energy - a small shift can make a big difference.
Asking to reschedule meetings also helps others see a different perspective. When Suvarna Singh asked me to reschedule a recurring meeting that shifted to late night India time during Daylight Savings in the US, I became more mindful of how Daylight Savings affected the rhythms of business in our global organization.
๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฝ๐: "Hey [name], I have a conflict with our meeting on [day] at [time]. Could we move it to [alternative time]? I want to make sure I can give this discussion my full attention."
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐:
โ Positions it as wanting to deliver quality engagement
โ Shows respect for the meeting's importance
โ Offers a solution, not just a problem
โ Keeps personal details private
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ: "I have a conflict" is a complete sentence. No need to explain daycare pickup, medical appointments, or personal commitments.
๐๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ, youโve created a better space for your best work.
๐๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐ต ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ, offer two or three other times that do work.
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐: If you canโt advocate for your own time, itโs harder to advocate for bigger things - visibility, promotions, stretch roles.
Whether you're protecting focus time, managing family schedules, or optimizing your energy - the principle is the same. Your time has value, and strategic scheduling leads to better outcomes.
This is a small ask that builds the muscle for bigger ones. Own your calendar like you own your career.
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โ Want to get even better at asking? I still have a limited number of seats left in the July 25 cohort of my course. Last cohort of this year! https://maven.com/chaitali-narla/outstanding-tech-career