22 WESTERN PALLET
Women in the Industry Share Insights on Work-Life Balance, Time Management, Delegation, Technology and More
On December 12, WPA held its latest online networking event.. The Women in the Industry Master Learning Group is an online forum held exclusively for female pallet industry professionals.
The sessions offer a supportive environment for women in the industry to ask questions, share experiences, offer tips and best practices, and enjoy a friendly WPA-style virtual get-together. Participants represent a diverse cross-section of company roles and geographic locations. WPA membership is not mandatory, and all women professionals in the industry are encouraged to attend. However, Preregistration at the WPA website is necessary.
This month’s meeting included personal and professional updates, recent fires in California, the importance of self-care and work-life balance, and the potential of tools like AI and cloud storage to help build better operations and data management.
On the topic of fires, participants explored their experiences with evacuations and related power outages. It was agreed to explore this topic more fully at a future meeting.
Time Management and Delegation
One constant is that there never seems to be enough time. With that in mind, the group discussed strategies for maximizing daily productivity.
One member shared her use of the 7 Minute Life technique. The 7 Minute Life is about choosing to consciously focus your attention for 7 Minutes in the evening and 7 Minutes in the morning to make deliberate decisions about how you will spend the minutes and hours of each day. She uses this approach to complete her most important tasks by 11 am every day.
One constant is that there never seems to be enough time. With that in mind, the group discussed strategies for maximizing daily productivity.
Another attendee emphasized the importance of having a “to do” list and using alarm settings to stay on track. One participant schedules time away from emails to focus on her “to do” list, while another emphasized the need to revisit and reset priorities throughout the day. Setting hard stops for certain tasks can be helpful. Productivity apps such as Motion and others can be useful for organizing task management.
The team also discussed the importance of effective delegation in managing tasks and responsibilities. They underscored the need for proper training, trust, and empowering employees to take ownership of their tasks. Take time to explain why tasks are being delegated and ensure that the right person is in the right seat.
The group agreed that delegating tasks can lead to personal growth and improved job satisfaction. The discussion also touched on the importance of “radical” transparency and open communication in decision-making processes.
Managing Significant Business Decisions
Another part of the discussion revolved around handling significant business decisions with a
focus on the importance of informed management and collaboration. One participant shared her experience with a major fire at their mulch facility, which led to a massive rebuilding effort. She emphasized the importance of methodical decision-making and learning from such experiences.