Running an effective work schedule: interview with Nick, Head of Partnerships for Havn
“Work smarter, not harder.”
“ Hustle culture is dead.”
“It’s not about the days in your life, but the life in your days.”
We’ve all heard these adages before, but the reality is, work takes over and the urgent surpasses the important. Is it really possible to fully maximise your work schedule, so all the time in the office or in meetings is actually productive?
The Head of Partnerships at Havn, Nicholas Osy de Zegwaart, might just have his work schedule figured out. We follow him for a typical day in a busy startup professional’s life, so we can see what he does differently:
Hi Nick! Let’s start at the beginning: what time do you usually get into the office?
Hello! Well, I like to aim for 8.15am and get my ducks in a row a bit earlier than the rest of the office. My commute from home is fairly long, so I like to make sure I have a window of time too, just in case there’s a delay on the way.
What do you usually tackle first, to kick off your working day?
I tend to have a clearer head and do my best thinking in the morning — before I get stuck into meetings and emails for the rest of the day — so I tend to prioritise bigger tasks like meeting prep, contracts, or strategy and planning.
Sounds good, what next?
As Head of Partnerships for a startup, you can imagine I’m out and about quite a lot. If I’ve got a client meeting to attend (which is usually the case), then using Havn is a godsend. All the cars have on-board WiFi, which means I can stay connected whilst travelling. If I have a couple of meetings offsite, it means I’m out of the office for at least half the day. Staying productive on the move is really important for me, so being online and chauffeur-driven to my destination means I can keep on top of emails, calls, Slack messages, etc.
The silence of an electric vehicle is also quite calming and helps to block out the bustling city outside, and, with ‘quiet mode’ enabled, I can have serious or confidential phone calls, without the interference of public transport ambience, sirens or conversation with my chauffeur.
I’m a bit of a petrolhead too, so I must confess it is fantastic to be driven through the city in the Jaguar I-PACE, the most award-winning car of 2019!
Nice! What makes it so good?
Oh, where do I start? The car is just such a fantastic place to be. The interiors are just so luxurious, and there is a beautiful panoramic glass roof, which provides a whole new view of London’s skyline. Of course all Havn cars also come with complimentary WiFi, an iPad, and refreshments.
All the chauffeurs are brilliant too — extremely highly-trained without making too much of a fuss. They know London like the back of their hand and are even Level 3 First Aid trained.
Do you get a Havn back, too?
If I’ve already travelled to the meeting, then usually the chauffeur will be outside waiting to showcase the service to the new client. The best way to promote your product or service is to be an ambassador for the brand. It is a privilege to get to experience Havn for myself (and makes it easier to sell the benefits!)
Of course, in terms of maximising my time while travelling around town, I wouldn’t work from anywhere else until I return to the office! With the WiFi, peace and quiet, and being chauffeured right to the front door, it’s the perfect travel solution for professional travel.
What are you best hacks you know for a productive work day?
Know your strengths and weaknesses — as well as those of your team — and work to this. So, for example, if you know that you’re more of an early bird, like I am, and therefore have a clearer head in the mornings, don’t let yourself get bogged down by meetings or emails first thing. Instead, leave a clear window in your diary for your morning headspace, and you will intuitively work better.
If you have this understanding of yourself, then you can understand the team around you, too. Take the time to notice when and how they perform their best — and leverage this to get the best out of people. Delegate the tasks you know they’ll relish and ideally complementing your pattern, too.
Secondly, most offices are open plan (ours included). This is great for communication and making sure everyone is in the loop with what’s going on, but sometimes it is important to disconnect if you need to concentrate from time to time. If you can’t find a quiet corner or book a pod, then just by putting in your headphones signals to others you need to get your head down for a bit.
I also need to switch up my working environment from time to time. I’m often out and about seeing clients anyway, but if I have a large chunk of time at the office, then I like to move around and work in different locations to stay fresh.
Last but not least, take advantage of the downtime in your day — like when you’re travelling to or from a meeting like I do — or even your regular commute. Using Havn has made a world of difference to the time available in my working day, using my travel time to stay online and conduct client calls. What I do need to mention here too, though, is that it’s not all work, work! I have a rule that I never work on the way home. Instead, I’ll read a book or watch Netflix on my iPad. It’s just as important to decompress to make sure you’re performing your best when you’ve regained your energy.
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Pre-book Havn just 30 mins ahead for your business trip, client meeting, or all-important presentation. We are price-matched to Uber Exec for inner-city travel (20mins+) and Addison Lee for airport transfers. Download the app on iOS or Android, or speak directly to Nick about our corporate services.
