The Productivity Project for Coaches: Win Back Hours and Energy

Chris Bailey’s research showed that productivity comes down to three things: time, attention, and energy. As a coach, you don’t just need more hours—you need sharper hours. Here’s how to take control.

1. Track Your Energy

For one week, notice when you feel sharpest and when you fade. Morning? Afternoon? After practice?

• Block your toughest work (scouting, playbook design, recruiting strategy) during your peak hours.

• Save routine work (emails, scheduling, logistics) for low-energy times.

Think of it like game planning. You put your strongest players in when the game is on the line. Do the same with your energy.

2. Run Simple Experiments

Small changes = big hours saved. Try these for one week each and compare.

• Email: Two 30-minute inbox windows vs. checking email all day. Which frees more focus?

• Meetings: Replace one long meeting with a 15-minute stand-up. Does the team still get aligned?

Keep what works. Drop what doesn’t.

3. The Rule of 3

Every morning before 9 a.m., write down three outcomes you want to move today.

1. One team outcome (example: finalize game plan)

2. One personal outcome (example: family dinner)

3. One admin outcome (example: confirm travel roster)

At the end of the day, measure success by whether you moved those three—not by how many hours you sat at your desk.

Why This Works

Your calendar is already packed. But when you line up energy with priorities, test your systems, and lock in on three outcomes a day, you stop chasing tasks and start moving results.

Protect your energy. Guard your focus. Win back your hours.