Time management has always been a key topic, and it’s something I’ve been studying since college. But today, there’s a “crisis” in time management, especially among leaders. Finding time to focus on important tasks—strategy, execution, or growth—has become one of their top challenges. It’s not about tools or processes; it’s about making time for what truly matters.
Much of this time pressure comes from the constant disruptions in our world. With rapid changes in markets, technology, and customer needs, it can feel like we’re constantly playing catch-up. But I believe most of our time issues are self-inflicted. It’s not about lacking time management skills—it’s about how we approach our work and leadership. Here are a few thoughts on how to tackle these challenges:
1. We’re Overwhelmed by Initiatives
Leaders often pile on initiative after initiative, each one meant to address a new challenge or opportunity. Over time, this results in too many initiatives, with no clear priorities. If you start a new initiative, stop two others. If you can’t, you’re not thinking it through deeply enough.
2. We Don’t Clarify Our Leadership Priorities
When I ask leaders about their top priorities, they often respond with a long list of tasks. Without clarity on what really matters, we end up constantly shifting focus and confusing ourselves and our teams. Focus on two main priorities at a time—too many will spread you thin.
3. We React Instead of Being Proactive
There’s always something urgent demanding our attention—problems, emails, phone calls. But reacting to these things all the time keeps us from working on the important tasks that move us toward our goals. Being busy doesn’t mean being productive.
4. We Avoid the Hard Work of Proactivity
Focusing on our top priorities takes real effort and clarity, which can be uncomfortable. It’s easier to stay “busy” than to tackle the tough work that’s required to move forward. But the more we avoid it, the more we fail to achieve our goals.
5. Coaching Needs Focus
As leaders, we need to coach our teams around the organization’s top priorities, not an endless list of tasks. Just like learning a sport, focusing on one key thing at a time leads to faster improvement. This focus should be reflected in how we coach and measure our teams.
6. Be Ruthless with Your Time
Look at your calendar and ask: Does this activity contribute to my top priorities? If not, it’s time to say no. Saying “yes” to everything is a quick path to burnout and wasted time.
In short, we will never have enough time. But we can make the most of what we have by focusing relentlessly on the two things that matter most. It’s about discipline and prioritization—not trying to do everything. When we focus on what’s truly important, we’ll actually get things done.
