How effective leaders take back control of their time
How Effective Leaders Maximize Productivity • Part 1
When your calendar is always full, that’s not productivity — it’s overload!
Leaders don’t lose control of their time because they’re careless. They lose it because leadership attracts demands. And who can blame them?
Messages, meetings, and last-minute requests fill every gap until there’s no space left to think. The higher you rise, the faster your time fills up — unless you learn to lead it with intention.
From reactive to intentional
It’s all too easy for leaders to live in constant reaction mode.
Someone needs input — a fly buzzing by. As a leader, you need to fix this. Swat! End of fly.
But another person has a problem — swat! Soon, you’re swatting flies left and right, reacting to issues instead of shaping direction.
A full schedule can feel like progress, but the danger is when you don’t notice that it’s become a sign of misalignment.
True productivity isn’t about being busy — it’s about ensuring your time matches your role.
Leadership requires margin to think, plan, and set priorities that move the organization forward.
Without that space, you can’t lead strategically — only reactively.
Block deep work time
Leaders set priorities for others.
But effective leaders also prioritize the ability to do that work well. Blocking time for strategic thinking isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity.
Start with what you can manage. Ten minutes, then thirty.
Guard it like a meeting with your most important client — yourself!
Even a small block of uninterrupted time each week can reset your focus and restore clarity.
A full calendar isn’t bad; an unmanaged one is.
Lead with your calendar instead of reacting to it
Your calendar tells a leadership story. Is it filled by design or by default? A simple weekly review helps you lead your time instead of letting it lead you.
Recently, I found myself stressed. I wondered why, and then realized I was running three national events in three different cities three weeks in a row! And I only realized it the week before the first event started.
How did this happen???? I had neglected my rhythm of reviewing and looking forward. And because of this (and my fly-swatting tendencies), I found myself in a place of overload.
Align Time with your role
When you review your week, ask yourself a key question:
Does my time match my role?
Ask yourself if you’re focusing on what only you can do.
Use filters like uniqueness (tasks only you can lead), influence (where your direction matters most), and impact (what drives results).
Everything else can be reduced, delegated, or removed.
Set boundaries that reinforce focus
Every “yes” costs time, focus, and energy. Clear boundaries aren’t barriers — they’re clarity.
Before you accept a meeting or project, ask: “Is this the best use of my time, or just the easiest yes?”
Protecting your focus allows your team to lead at their level. When your schedule reflects your priorities, you lead with greater confidence and margin.
Control over your time isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what only you can do.
Ready to take back control of your time?
If you want practical tools to simplify your systems and build a rhythm that keeps you focused, download my free guide “Smart Systems for Leaders.”
It’ll help you cut through the noise, reclaim your schedule, and lead with more clarity and confidence.
