How To Plan Your Week To Become An Executive
Ever wondered how top executives manage to stay ahead of the game? It's not just about working hard—it's about working smart and strategically.
If you're not intentionally planning your career growth, you're planning to stay exactly where you are.
Harsh? Maybe. But it's a reality I've seen play out time and time again. Talented professionals, full of potential, watching their careers stagnate because they didn't take control of their own development.
Here's the truth: Becoming an executive isn't about chance. It's about choice—specifically, your choices every week.
Today, I'm sharing my tried-and-true weekly planner for aspiring executives. This isn't just theory; it's the exact method that helped me secure 10 promotions in 15 years.
Let's dive into how to plan your week for maximum career growth and executive skill-building.
The Weekly Executive Routine
I’ve used this routine for over a decade to level up continuously. This isn't just another productivity hack—it's a career transformation tool.
This structured approach builds habits, enhances focus, and provides clarity while balancing your short-term tasks with long-term career growth. This is how you’ll set yourself up for rapid growth without burning out.
Sunday: Set Your Strategy (30 minutes)
Why it matters: This is your roadmap for the week. Without it, you'll likely get caught up in the day-to-day and miss growth opportunities.
How to do it:
Create a list of high-leverage activities: These are projects with high visibility, networking opportunities with key stakeholders, alliance-building initiatives, and activities to gain industry knowledge.
Choose 1-2 high-leverage activities for the week.
Block time in your calendar for these activities.
Pro tip: Keep this list handy and update it regularly. Your high-leverage activities will evolve as you progress in your career. You can steal this template we use inside of my coaching program Success Builders.
Monday: Executive Visibility Day
Why it matters: Building relationships is crucial for executive success. These connections don't happen by accident—you must be intentional about setting and maintaining these relationships.
How to plan for it:
Identify 3-5 key stakeholders you need to connect with.
Schedule short meetings or touch-points with them (once a month or once a quarter, depending on their level of seniority)
Prepare for these conversations: What do you want to achieve? Are you seeking to understand their needs, collaborate on a project, or advocate for yourself? Make these meetings valuable for you and them if you want to build trust and rapport.
Remember: Especially in remote work, what you don’t share, people don’t know. Assume these stakeholders have no visibility to your work, and use your time with them to establish yourself as a leader.
Tuesday: Invest in Your Team
Why it matters: Your leadership brand is built on how you develop and empower your team. This is your day to shine as a leader.
How to maximize it:
Schedule team and one-on-one meetings for the same day so you can share updates once and allow your team members to respond privately.
Prepare for each meeting to help your team get the most out of the time.
Be fully present—no multitasking!
Pro tip: Use this day to work on your leadership skills actively. After each interaction, reflect on what went well and what you could improve.
Wednesday: Deep Work and Strategic Thinking
Why it matters: This is where you solidify your professional skills and add unique value as a leader. It’s also when you get “real work” done.
What to focus on:
Yearly planning
Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs)
Project development
Team evaluations
How to make it happen:
Block 2-3 hours of uninterrupted time.
Communicate this 'do not disturb' time to your team and block it on your calendar.
Don’t force more than 90 minutes of deep work; your brain needs a break.
Remember: Protect this time fiercely. It's where the magic happens!
Thursday: Tactical Execution
Why it matters: Being responsive and on top of day-to-day tasks is part of being a great executive. You’ll sprinkle this type of work throughout the week, but dedicated time means no loose ends before the weekend.
What to tackle:
Emails and messages
Non-urgent tasks
Quick 15-minute responses
Administrative work
How to approach it:
Use the 2-minute rule: Do it immediately if it takes less than 2 minutes.
Batch similar tasks together for efficiency.
Delegate what you can—it's a crucial executive skill!
Friday: Celebrate and Capture Wins
Why it matters: You need a repository of your achievements. It's not just for your ego—it's ammunition for your next promotion conversation
How to do it effectively:
Set aside 15-30 minutes at the end of the day.
Record your big and small wins in a dedicated document or tool.
Include quantifiable results where possible.
Pro tip: Don't wait for big wins. Small victories add up and paint a picture of consistent value creation.
This is how you plan your week for maximum impact on your growth.
A Note on Flexibility: Plans will change, meetings will appear on your calendar, and priorities will shift. That’s life. But if you stick to this structure even 70% of the time, you'll be miles ahead. It's also great practice setting and maintaining boundaries—a crucial executive skill.
Your next steps
The bottom line is to prioritize your career growth. No one will care about your career as much as you do. This level of intentionality separates those who get ahead from those who get left behind.
What can you do today?
Block out time in your calendar for next week's activities.
Identify your key stakeholders for Monday's outreach.
Start your "wins" tracker today—don't wait!
Remember, becoming an executive isn't just about what you do—it's about how you plan, prioritize, and position yourself. This weekly planner is your first step towards making that executive mindset a habit.
I believe in you, and I’m rooting for you.
Maya ❤️
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