President and COO of TIAG, an innovative technology company providing strategic and transformational commercial and defense solutions.
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We all know that time management is important. Leaders are always looking for new ways to maximize efficiency and get more done in less time. However, what happens when you feel like you’ve tried everything and you’re still struggling to manage your time effectively?
Good news: You’re in good company.
Bad news: You already know what I’m about to say; you’re just not doing it.
The Leadership Mindset Dilemma
The leadership mindset dilemma is a phenomenon that leaders know too well. We know what we should be doing, but we’re too busy to do it—or we think that we know it all. In the back of our minds, we wonder if we’re really cut out for this leader gig.
• “It’s quicker if I just do it myself.”
• “I don’t have time to train someone else to do this.”
• “This is my baby. I need to see it through.”
• “I’m not doing enough.”
Sound familiar? The leadership mindset dilemma is when you find yourself stuck between two competing thoughts—and if you’re a leader, chances are you’ve caught yourself thinking (or even saying out loud) one or more of these things on more than one occasion. While it’s admirable to have a go-getter attitude and be passionate about your work, trying to do everything yourself is not only impossible but also detrimental to your team’s growth and development. This is because:
• You’re trying to do everything yourself.
• You’re not delegating enough—or at all.
• You’re not building the next generation of leaders.
• You’re stifling others’ sense of accomplishment.
• You’re not prioritizing your time.
• You’re not organized.
• You’re spending too much time in meetings.
• You’re not taking enough breaks—if any.
• You’re working too many hours.
• You’re not saying “no” enough.
• You’re not taking advantage of technology.
• You’re not holding yourself accountable for the right things.
As leaders, we think we need to portray an aura of knowing everything. We’ve grown the company to where it is, and we’ve read all of the books. However, if we’re experiencing anything listed above, it means we’re still struggling with time and task management. It may sound like a cliche, but being an effective leader involves learning how to manage your time and tasks efficiently.
We’re always looking for new ways of doing things that will help us be more productive, but what happens when there are no shortcuts and no more efficiencies to squeeze out? What happens …….
