Many of us are challenged by our inboxes, by our list of priorities and the demands that are placed upon us by our colleagues, teams and business stakeholders. Leaders are no different. Except in the way that we respond.
You see, leaders only do what leaders can do.
Or more precisely, leaders should do what only they can do.
Take a look through your inbox and your list of to-dos. What can be handled by your team? What can be delegated to another person? What is worthy of your attention and where can you have the most impact?
You will see that there are some tasks that only you can complete. That’s what you should focus on. That’s what you should prioritize. And the rest of the things that you have on your ever-growing list can be delegated or re-routed to others.
By concentrating on the things that only you can do, you not only free-up your thinking for the important tasks, you also provide opportunities for your colleagues and your teams to demonstrate their abilities. But more importantly, this allows you to focus your own leadership on the act of “doing”. As Wally Bock explains, “… great leaders are great because of what they do, not because of who they are”; and this simple, but useful, technique ensures that you spend most of your effort where it will have the greatest outcome.
So what’s the first thing you’re going to do now?
Nina Nets It Out: The modern business is a challenging place with competing priorities. As a leader, your role is not to do everything, but to do those things that can only be done by you. All other tasks can be delegated or re-prioritized.