Makers vs. Managers: How to Optimize Your Calendar for Success
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on a recurring challenge: the calendar. As a mom, a creative professional, and someone with a lot going on (both in life and in my head!), I’m always looking for ways to optimize my time. The more I climb the ladder of responsibility, the more I realize that one of the greatest dilemmas for creatives is the calendar.
Recently, I stumbled across a TikTok by @jakeferrin, which introduced me to the concept of the Maker's Schedule versus the Manager's Schedule. This idea has completely reshaped how I view my own time management and the way I approach my team’s schedules.
The Manager’s Schedule
A manager’s schedule is typically full of meetings. It’s structured to be effective for someone whose role revolves around connecting with individuals or teams. Managers are often the glue holding everything together, ensuring that tasks are delegated and projects move forward. Meetings—whether one-on-ones, team check-ins, or cross-departmental syncs—are their bread and butter. Their success hinges on collaboration, communication, and keeping everyone on the same page.
The Maker’s Schedule
Now, contrast that with the maker's schedule—the designers, coders, editors, or other creatives who are tasked with solving hard problems. If you’re in this role, you know that creativity takes time to develop. It’s a process that can’t be rushed or slotted into 15-minute windows between meetings. In fact, studies show that it can take up to 30 minutes just to get into a state of flow—the kind of deep, uninterrupted concentration where the best work happens. And yet, if a maker’s day is constantly peppered with meetings, it breaks that flow and stifles creativity.
Finding Balance: The Power of Time Blocking
So, how do we solve this? I believe the answer lies in smart calendar management—specifically, time blocking. As someone who wears both hats (maker and manager), I’ve found it essential to block out uninterrupted work periods where I can focus, create, and find flow. For managers, it’s equally important to respect your team’s creative process. Regularly scheduled meetings can be helpful, but so is checking in with your team to find out when they prefer to block out their work time.
Here are a few strategies I’ve implemented:
Create Regular Meeting Blocks: Instead of scheduling meetings sporadically throughout the week, establish regular touchpoints that your team can plan around. This allows makers to safeguard chunks of time for deep work.
Be Flexible with One-on-Ones: Take your team’s preferences into account when scheduling one-on-ones. If you notice they work best in the afternoons, try not to break up their mornings with meetings.
Optimize Meetings: Can an hour-long meeting be shortened to 30 or even 15 minutes? Can a discussion be handled via email or message instead? Always aim to make the most of everyone’s time and reduce unnecessary meetings. (Check out my other post on how to run more effective meetings!)
Why It Matters
There will always be exceptions, of course, but when you prioritize uninterrupted work time and thoughtful meeting schedules, your team will thank you. More importantly, the quality of their work will reflect this intentionality. Allowing space for creativity and focus sets everyone up to thrive, leading to more innovation and better results overall.
If you're juggling both creative and managerial roles like I am, I encourage you to experiment with these approaches. Your team—and your calendar—will thank you.
