Most leaders I know are busy from the moment they wake up until the moment they go to bed.
Emails. Meetings. Firefighting.
But here’s the hard truth: being busy is not the same as being productive.
In fact, busyness often hides a lack of focus, weak delegation, and poor time management.
Why Leaders Stay Stuck in “Busy” Mode
- Addicted to urgency: Every ping feels important.
- Poor delegation: You’re doing work someone else should own.
- Meeting overload: Hours lost in low-value conversations.
- No priorities: Everything feels equally important — so nothing truly moves forward.
The Cost of Busyness
- Burnout (for you and your team)
- Slower execution across the company
- A-players leaving because they want clarity, not chaos
- The CEO and COO stuck in weeds instead of driving growth
How to Fix It
- Prioritize Ruthlessly
Not everything matters. Decide what actually drives results — and say no to the rest. - Delegate With Trust
Don’t just hand off tasks — hand off outcomes. Let your managers own the result. - Control Your Calendar
Block time for focus. Shorten meetings. Leave space for strategic thinking. - Use Systems, Not Memory
Dashboards, SOPs, and rhythms free your brain from constant micromanagement.
If you’re always busy but rarely moving the needle, it’s time to change how you lead.
Productivity comes from focus, delegation, and structure — not from adding more hours to your day.
Want your managers to master focus, delegation, and time management so you can stop carrying the load?
Check out my training program Invest in Your Leaders — a 6-hour practical course teaching 12 essential leadership skills to help your team self-manage and free you to focus on what really matters.