4 Changes an Elite Management Consultant Would Tell You to Make to Maximize Your Productivity If you can afford a consultant, go ahead and hire one but, basically, here is what they would tell you.

By John Boitnott

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Westend61 | Getty Images

Consultants at prestigious consulting firms like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Company are often the best and the brightest. They must complete a rigorous hiring process that tests their intellect and stamina. If selected, they will be compensated handsomely for their work, and will have earned a competitive advantage over peers in the job market.

But, working as a consultant has costs. In my years working with some of these firms, I've had to spend long hours on writing projects that were carefully scrutinized by some of the world's smartest executives. Management consulting is a stressful business. As a result, elite consultants have developed a number of ways to maximize their time.

Here are four time management secrets that are practised by high-powered consultants at leading firms, some of which I use myself.

Related: 10 Simple Things Successful People Do Every Morning (Infographic)

1. Start your day with the hardest tasks, complete the easiest tasks at the end of the day.

In his book The McKinsey Edge, former McKinsey analyst, Shu Hattori, discusses a time management strategy that he learned while working on demanding projects for Fortune 100 clients.

He suggests that most people are sharpest in the early morning hours. Therefore, Hattori learned to frontload his day with the most mentally demanding tasks. In my case, I tend to work on the hardest, deadline-oriented tasks in my first morning "shift."

As the day progresses, Hattori organized tasks to becoming increasingly easy. It was only late at night that Hattori would check his email inbox to answer questions that required relatively little thought.

These findings are supported by research conducted by university professor Christoph Randler who found that productivity is correlated with morning work for most people. As the day progresses, most people become less productive.

Related: 4 Reliable Signs Someone Is About to Waste Your Time

2. Use the Eisenhower matrix to prioritize tasks.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was a master of organization and prioritization. During World War II he was the supreme commander of allied forces, overseeing the European theater of operations. From 1953 to 1961 he served as the 34th president of the United States.

During his long career, Eisenhower developed a prioritization framework that has been used by management consultants ever since. The Eisenhower Matrix uses a four-box matrix to help anyone prioritize his or her day. On the X axis are the columns "urgent" and "not urgent" and on the Y axis are the rows "not important" and "important."

Anything that is urgent and important should be done. If the project is not urgent but important it should be planned for a later date. If work is urgent but not important it should be delegated to someone else. And if it is neither important nor urgent, it should be eliminated.

In my career as a consultant I regularly need to prioritize their work. I diplomatically refuse assignments if they are not in the best interest of projects. The Eisenhower Matrix is an elegant way to manage time and client expectations.

Related: 5 Habits of the Wealthy That Helped Them Get Rich

3. Get to work early to avoid distractions and meetings.

Meetings are often a drain on productivity, and yet they are also often unavailable. It is of course challenging for consultants to avoid client meetings. After all, client satisfaction is probably equally important as getting the job done. According to a study conducted by Bain & Company, middle managers and senior leaders spend roughly 50 percent of their time in meetings.

The best way to avoid the distraction of meetings is often to get into the office as early as possible. As I mentioned earlier, early mornings are a more productive time anyway. And since meetings are usually held after 9:00 AM, arriving early can provide busy consultants with a precious few quiet hours to get the most important projects done.

Related: Get it Done: 35 Habits of the Most Productive People (Infographic)

4. Ask for needed resources communicate implications if resources are not provided.

Sometimes client or internal expectations are simply unrealistic. It is at this point that seasoned consultants know their limits and ask for additional resources. The most responsible way to ask for additional resources it to summarize the consequences if these resources are not provided to the management team.

Giving senior managers the full picture will help them make an informed decision to either reduce the scope of the project, or to provide additional support in order to meet project expectations.

In my view, the best management consultants are also masters of time management. To get started, my best advice is again to get to work early and then tackle the most challenging items first.

Then ask for additional resources to complete projects if the scope of work changes. These methods will help you meet the high demands placed on you by clients and by senior leaders within a firm.

Related: How to Manage Time With 10 Tips That Work

John Boitnott

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® VIP

Journalist, Digital Media Consultant and Investor

John Boitnott is a longtime digital media consultant and journalist living in San Francisco. He's written for Venturebeat, USA Today and FastCompany.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Leadership

Good Leadership Is a Lot Like a Bag of Golf Clubs, According to the CEO of Hooters

Hooters of America CEO Sal Melilli talks about moving from working at the kitchen sink to in the C-suite, diversifying income streams, and celebrating 40 years of Hooters Girls.

Side Hustle

This Millennial Dad Just Wanted to Help His Daughter Care for Her Bearded Dragon. Then His Cricket-Breeding Side Hustle Exploded — Earning $27,000 in One Month.

It wasn't Jeff Neal's first attempt at a side gig, and before long, the "prototypical millennial side-hustler" realized his product had major potential.

Life Hacks

This Bad Work Habit Is Stealing a Shocking 72 Days of Your Time Per Year

Here's how to recognize if you're guilty — and reclaim those precious days.

Science & Technology

3 Reasons Why Web3 Will Flip Digital Ownership On Its Head

Here are the three things that Web3 could completely change about digital ownership.

Leadership

4 Body Language Mistakes You Didn't Realize You're Making at Work — And How to Fix Them

Many unconscious gestures negatively affect your professional life. These four mistakes are easy to do — and easy to fix.