Feeling Behind? Could It Just Be Misaligned? (#260)
The Confident Leader
BOOST YOUR LEADERSHIP IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
Recently, many leaders have been saying, “I know time is precious. But no matter how hard I work, I feel like I’m falling behind.”
The pressure and pace can have that effect. It might help to remember you’re not alone. And, there’s a more confident way.
“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” – Michael Altshuler
This Week’s Edition
According to a 2023 Deloitte report, 78% of executives say they feel time-starved, and 40% say it affects their decision-making.
Clarify Your Thinking
A leader’s frantic, breathless feeling—it’s common for those in high-stakes roles.
Throughout thousands of coaching sessions, this is what I have discovered:
Leaders who chase urgency often become exhausted and demoralized.
Leaders who clarify priorities progress more quickly and stay confident.
If you’re looking for more hours, you won’t find them. They don’t exist.
What you can find is better alignment.
Needing to work more hours isn’t the answer. Aligning your focus is.
Think of it like this:
A fast runner on the wrong track still finishes last.
When time feels limited, don’t just hustle; return to clarity.
Ask yourself: What truly matters most right now?
Which of the balls I am juggling will bounce if I let them fall to the ground? Which will break?
Guard those priorities with your calendar (and checkbook) as if they’re sacred.
Old Thinking:
If I move faster, I’ll catch up.
New Thinking:
I don’t need to do more. I need prioritize what matters and spend my time doing those.
Thoughts Lead to Actions
August is the perfect time to breathe and take stock before the rush of the fall sprint.
Try this simple 3-step reset when the pace starts to outpace you:
Step 1: Define the Top Priorities
On Sunday, identify the top 3 things that need your attention in the upcoming week.
Step 2: Review Your Calendar and Make Adjustments
Allocate the time you need to focus on those top 3 priorities.
Double the allocated time you think it requires.
Everything always takes twice as long as we expect.
Step 3: Review Your Week
Set aside time each Friday to reflect, reassess priorities, and recommit.
Creating a new routine of prioritization takes time, and reflection is your best strategy for consistency.
Leadership isn’t about keeping up.
It’s about choosing what to keep first.
Boost Your Performance
This week’s video shares how one high-achieving founder traded time anxiety for time clarity—and the weekly habit that helped him get ahead without burning out.
What’s Your Opinion?
What’s one shift that’s helped you make better use of your time for your priorities?
I’d love to hear it: robin.pou@robinpou.com.
If you are going to be a leader, you might as well be a good one. Don’t let doubt count you out. Have a confident week!
Robin Pou, Chief Advisor and Strategist
We live to make bad leadership extinct so forward this newsletter to others who strive to be confident leaders.
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What is “The Confident Leader”?
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, I began a video series called “Panic or Plan?” It was designed to equip leaders to navigate the doubt they experienced and to rise in the confidence they needed to lead during turbulent times. It took off. I then started this newsletter to equip leaders in the same fashion each week for the doubt that crashes across the bow of their leaderSHIP.
