In this post, I'm diving into leadership strategies tailored for the busy professional. We all have overwhelming to-do lists, and leadership can often seem like just another task to tick off. However, by focusing on a few simple strategies—or leadership hacks—we can transform our approach without adding more to our plates. As you read through, consider adopting just one change at a time, especially for the first quarter of implementing a new habit. Focusing on one change at a time maximises the likelihood of success and can lead to significant performance improvements.
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The Art of Delegation
The first hack is to stop doing everything yourself. Delegation is an essential skill that empowers your team by entrusting tasks aligned with their skills and strengths. A Harvard Business School study highlighted common barriers to effective delegation among leaders, such as lack of trust, a desire for control, or simply lacking the time to properly delegate. But following through with delegation can free up your time and resources significantly.
When I coach others, I suggest starting by listing all current activities and identifying one task to delegate. While tasks like one-on-ones might seem undelayable, consider entrusting tasks like note-taking to your team. Challenge yourself to stop doing everything on your own and find at least one task you can pass on.
The Two-Minute Rule
The second hack is the two-minute rule: if something takes less than two minutes to complete, do it immediately. Rather than allowing small tasks to clutter your to-do list, knock them out as they arise. For example, if a team member needs quick feedback on a presentation, provide it right away. This practice can clear mental clutter and boost your energy by preventing small tasks from piling up.
Effective Meetings
Make meetings matter. According to Business Insider, meetings can consume over 37% of an employee's work hours and are often perceived as ineffective. It's important to ensure meetings have a clear purpose, relevant attendees, and genuine follow-up actions. Evaluate meeting effectiveness using a simple rating scale. If your meeting scores less than a five, look for opportunities to improve and give immediate feedback to optimize future meetings.
The 80/20 Rule
The next hack involves recognising the 80/20 rule: focus on the 20% of tasks that produce 80% of your results. Prioritise high-impact tasks that align with your overall business strategy and delegate the rest. This prioritisation will ensure you're directing your energy towards tasks that truly matter, enhancing your leadership effectiveness.
Time-Independent Communication
Lastly, explore time-independent communication methods. Utilise tools like email, project management apps, and recording video messages on platforms such as Loom to facilitate efficient communication. For instance, instead of holding lengthy meetings for project updates, send a video detailing the necessary points. This allows your team to review at their own pace and respond accordingly, ensuring that communication is clear, effective, and aligned with your expectations.
Reflect on these leadership hacks and consider which one you could adopt first. The true power of these strategies lies in their integration into your daily behaviours, and it's this gradual process that will herald genuine change.