LEADING BY EXAMPLE
How leaders spend their time tells everyone what they value.
Time and how leaders use it is their most valuable asset. Prioritize your time doing things that only you can do. Let/task others to do those other things. Let/empower/FORCE people to do their job and execute their responsibilities. Walk the walk on empowering people.
Be very aware of how you are spending your time, measure it. Ensure you are not spending too much time on things that you are comfortable with, when you should be spending time on things that you say and know are most important, and only you can do.
Make sure you use your time to resource, train, mentor, and listen to your folks to allow them the maximum amount of time to do their jobs.
Stay with a disciplined Battle Rhythm. Don't be disruptive by interrupting others' time. Make things fit in the Battle Rhythm, that will tell you what is really important.
The higher you get up the leadership ladder, the percentage of time you spend up and out vs down must increase. Also, the percentage of time you spend on relationships vs doing should increase. Take the time to figure out how you can best benefit the organization, set a percentage goal. It works as a forcing function. Measure where you spend your time vs what you said you needed to spend your time on, it will truly align your priorities.
I am a big believer in the value of "leadership by walking around." You must make time to do that, and it should be planned every day. You won't get it every day, because nobody is 100% in control of their time. You are kidding yourself if you think you are really getting the information you need in formal meetings. In most cases, you are getting what people think you need. There is a difference.
Leadership by walking around increases your chance of knowing what people really do 24/7, and you can't help them be more effective if you don't understand that. In most cases, people are doing what they think is best for the organization, but are not, because they really do not understand how your strategy and vision applies to their job.
RLTW!
mike