Author of
The Gauntlet
The first month of the new year is almost complete, and by now, you’re likely settled back into your habitual routines again. Which means you’re back to daily choices, priority changes and distractions…and the challenge of making the best of your valuable time.
There’s plenty to keep you busy, with many demands upon that time. But as a leader, you know that time is irreplaceable, so this year like every year, your plan is to invest your limited time as productively as possible. It’s a perpetual challenge.
Productivity is more than a financial metric; it includes everything you do in leading people, from sharing knowledge to impacting lives. Being productive means that you’ve created something of value. It requires skill, resolve and good judgement. So the enduring question is: did you produce enough value for all the time you invested today?
How many of your emails, meetings and calls generated benefits? How many involved the preservation of key customer relationships, the quest for innovations, the relentless pursuit of quality, productivity and sustainability, or the strengthening of your culture?
Choosing productivity over busy-ness is just a series of choices about how you’ll spend the next minute. Being able to make that choice begins with your awareness about how your limited time is invested, followed by committing to choose productivity more consistently. It’s a habit to be developed, requiring learning, practice and feedback.
What have you changed to increase your productive time?
