
✅ Today’s checklist:
- Break the bottlenecks at work
- Thania combats “summer bod” feelings
- Joanna shares The Assist Work Beatz #1
🤔 Trivia: What is the only metal that remains liquid at room temperature? Find out.
QUICK LINKS
⏰ Productivity: Eight ways to manage your time and multiple projects.
👥 Leadership: Managing up—what it means and why it’s important.
🍎 Health: The most common foods that cause bloating and gas.
📵 Digital Detox: Reasons to take a break from your phone.
💵 Finances: Millennials stepping in to support parents and older family members.
OPTIMIZED OPS
Breaking Bottlenecks: Tips & Scripts to Get Things Moving
In a fast-paced work environment, bottlenecks can slow down progress and increase stress.
Here’s how to effectively manage these challenges and keep projects moving forward:
1. Proactive Communication
Establish clear communication channels from the start. Regular updates and check-ins can prevent misunderstandings and delays. Keeping all stakeholders informed about project statuses and potential bottlenecks is crucial.
- What to Say: “Let’s schedule regular check-ins to update on progress and any potential roadblocks. This way, we can address issues promptly.”
2. Set Clear Expectations
When initiating projects or tasks that require approval, set realistic timelines and expectations with all parties involved. Ensure everyone understands the process and the time each phase typically requires.
- What to Say: “As we start this project, I want to ensure we all agree on the expected timelines and deliverables. Here’s what I propose. Does this work for everyone?”
3. Anticipate Issues
Proactively address potential disruptions by posing forward-thinking questions.
- What to Say: “In case you have other pressing priorities, what’s our backup plan for reviews and approvals?”
4. Utilize Downtime Effectively
While waiting for approvals or next steps, focus on other tasks to maintain productivity. This includes planning future projects, organizing your workspace, or completing smaller tasks that don’t require supervisory input.
- Ask yourself: “Which pending minor tasks can I address now? How can I prepare for future project phases to keep the momentum going?”
5. Build Relationships
Develop strong, positive relationships with key stakeholders involved in the approval process. Understanding their challenges and priorities can lead to quicker decisions and may expedite your requests.
- What to Say: “I recognize the pressure you’re under. What can I do to make our processes run more smoothly for you?”
6. Manage Up
Don’t be afraid to call out conflicting direction. Often managers aren’t aware of the overwhelming asks, and appreciate when direct reports clearly communicate with supervisors about the workload and priorities to ensure alignment.
- What to Say: “I can complete the new task you requested, but it will impact the other urgent tasks you assigned. How would you like me to prioritize these?”
7. Flag Consequences
Promptly communicate the potential impact of bottlenecks to highlight urgency and encourage swift action.
- What to Say: “We’re facing bottlenecks due to X, Y, Z, which could prevent us from meeting our upcoming milestone if not addressed.”
8. Leverage Technology
Adopt project management tools to automate reminders and monitor deadlines effectively. Tools like monday.com or Notion can significantly enhance transparency and tracking.
- What to Do: Implement project boards to visualize our progress and set automated reminders for key deadlines, ensuring everyone is synchronized and informed.
9. Develop Contingency Plans
Always have a backup plan. If delays occur, having a plan B can help you quickly pivot and continue progress without significant downtime.
- What to Say: “In case we encounter any delays, here’s a contingency plan I’ve developed. This should help us stay on track even if we hit a snag.”
10. Advocate for Streamlined Processes
If bottlenecks are a frequent issue, identify the issue and propose changes or improvements to the approval process. Sometimes, systems need to be updated or revised to fit the current business environment better.
- What to Say: “I’ve noticed recurring delays at certain stages of our process. I believe we can improve our efficiency by making some strategic adjustments. Can we discuss potential solutions?”
Navigating bottlenecks effectively requires proactive communication, clear expectations, and the right tools. By implementing these strategies and using the suggested scripts, you can maintain productivity and ensure smoother project progression.
MEETING TEMPLATE
My 1:1 Meetings Used to Suck — Then I Did This
A great way to foster better relationships between you and your boss or direct report is through one-on-one meetings.
The perfect 1:1 meeting template keeps all of your agendas and action items—tailored for each individual—in one organized place.
⭐ This template does just that by laying out roles, expectations, and how to best implement a feedback cycle.
📄 Get the 1:1 meeting template free here.
*Presented by ClickUp.
WELLNESS
Don’t Let the Wave of “Summer Bods” Get You Down
Summer’s here, and with it, a relentless barrage of messages about the “perfect summer body” floods our feeds, beckons from magazine covers, and echoes from well-meaning friends and family.
I’ve been there—feeling like I need to shrink, tone, or change my body to fit into this summer’s hottest trends.
I was recently diagnosed with PCOS and gained 15lbs of relentless weight. But over the years, I’ve picked up a few truths that have steered me toward a healthier mindset.
Celebrate What Your Body Can Do
Every summer, I challenge myself to shift focus from how my body looks to what it can do. This body—our bodies—has carried us through every day of our lives.
It lets us enjoy the warmth of the sun, the coolness of the water, and the sheer joy of summer activities. When I start feeling down about my body, I make a list of all the things I’m grateful it allows me to do.
Whether it’s swimming, hiking, or just lounging on the beach, remember, your body is a freaking awesome instrument.
Curate Your Media Intake
Changing up my social media was a game-changer for me. I purged feeds that made me question my self-worth and followed accounts that celebrated all body types.
This small step has had a massive impact on how I see myself and the world.
Wear What Feels Good
The fashion industry is slowly catching on that beautiful clothes should fit our bodies as they are, not the other way around.
This summer, I’m all about comfort and styles that make me feel fabulous. High-waisted bikinis, flowing sundresses, comfy shorts—wear what you love, and wear it proudly.
Set Boundaries Around Body Talk
I’ve found it’s okay to tell people that body critique isn’t welcome in your conversations. Setting these boundaries helps me and makes others think twice about the impact of their words.
Our bodies are not up for public commentary, and it’s totally fine to remind everyone of that.
Embrace Your Journey
Growing up, most of my friends were slender and petite, while I rocked a curvy, athletic shape.
My deep dive into fitness and wellness in my late 20s, including joining accountability groups and coaching, opened my eyes to how many of us struggle with these issues, often in silence. It’s okay to be on a journey!
Move, Fuel, and Forgive
This summer, I’m loving my body by moving more—whether that’s walking during golf, aiming for 7,000 steps a day, or hitting the gym four times a week.
Food-wise, I’m focusing on fueling my body, especially since my ADD meds make me forget to eat. I’m big on meal prepping and stocking up on easy, high-protein snacks.
And mentally, I’m forgiving my mind whenever it tries to play the comparison game at the beach or poolside, and instead, I’m loading up on positive affirmations.
🏝️This summer, I invite you to join me in shedding the heavy layers of body negativity.
Let’s focus on what our bodies can do, dress them in ways that make us feel good, set boundaries around negative body talk, and celebrate every part of our journey towards self-acceptance.
Our bodies deserve our kindness, not our criticism.
Remember, your body is your home, and it’s damn perfect just as it is.
Thania (TA Content Mgr)
PRODUCTIVITY HACK
That Meeting Could Have Been a Guidde
Manifest this: instead of summoning the entire team for another round of snooze-inducing meetings, why not let Guidde work its AI magic?
Transform your instructions into engaging how-to videos that your team will actually watch and enjoy.
TUNE IN
From My Desk to Yours 🎵
We took a recent poll on how many of you listen to music while you work:
33.4% of you answered with “All the time”, while 41% said, “Sometimes.”
I definitely fall into the “All the time” group.
When I need to focus on content or copy, I usually prefer music with little to no lyrics—electronic beats are my go-to.
I got tired of the same old playlists, so I made my own to keep things fresh at work.
You can bump it here on Spotify—bc a majority of you prefer Spotify, and it’s also what I use ;).
Joanna (Co-Founder of TA)
STAFF PICKS
Stuff We’re Loving This Week
💌 Meco is a distraction-free space for reading and discovering newsletters, separate from the inbox. Add your newsletters in seconds and liberate your inbox today!
🤖 Keep your home spotless with this efficient robot vacuum.
✨ Achieve a sun-kissed glow year-round with these magical bronzing drops.
📘 Elevate your leadership skills with insights from Leading With Intention, perfect for anyone looking to lead more effectively.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
🚨 Job Alerts
- KMA Human Resources Consulting is hiring for a HR Consultant (Brunswick, ME/Hybrid).
- Stallion Infrastructure Services is hiring for a Category Manager (Houston, TX).
- Robert Half is hiring for a Financial Analyst (Tucson, AZ).
- A-C Electric Company is hiring for a People Operations Manager (Bakersfield, CA).
- Leidos is hiring for a Senior Network Engineer (Undisclosed, MD).