“I think my biggest challenge right now is time management.”
This from a CEO in one of our initial conversations a few weeks ago.  Perhaps it’s a mantra for many Leaders right now.  Revenues don’t come as easily these days.  Everyone is hustling to survive or be out front when the economy rebounds.  And, with record layoffs, there are fewer people to do the work.
I ask this Leader, “how, exactly, are you spending your time?”  “Well, I’m doing this and this and this . . .” he rattles off the list of meetings (that’s always a big culprit!), phone calls, studying of reports, returning emails, etc. that occupy every leader’s day.  The “activity” list comes easily.
When I sense he’s starting to wind down, I ask “what are the most important things you need to be doing right now?  What are the key results you need to achieve today . . . this week?”
This brings a pause, hesitation.
Isn’t this a great challenge for all of us?  Maintaining a clear understanding of what results we need to be focused on — from our vantage point as Leader of the organization?  The blizzard of ACTIVITY white’s out our perspective on RESULTS.
A popular and helpful book on time management right now is David Allen’s Getting Things Done.  It’s been near the top of the best-seller lists for the last year or so.  Unfortunately, most of the Leaders I work with don’t have the TIME to read this 250+ page book.
Leaders need a shorter book entitled Getting the Right Things Done.  This probably would have been Peter Drucker’s title if he had written a book on time management.  Drucker did produce a related book about 40 years ago — The Effective Executive — from which his takeaway quote would be:

Instead of an emphasis on doing things right, the effective Leader concentrates on doing right things.

Effectiveness over efficiency.
Results over activity.
What are the top results, the “right things,” you’re focused on today?
I’ll share a method I’ve developed over the years to keep myself on track.  Perhaps it will be helpful to a few of you.
Every morning, I print out my day’s calendar from Outlook.  Generally, it is already full of “activity” — scheduled meetings, phone calls, administrative to-do’s down the left-hand side.  Then, on the right-hand side of the page I write the words “BIG THREE.”  Under this title, I list up to three items, which, if I accomplish them, will represent a successful day in terms of doing the right things. Right things for today that are in line with my right things for the week, the month, the quarter. They are pivotal things that are key to moving my business forward. I will have a lot of “activities” in my day, but this list of results will determine whether or not the day is a success.
Today, the #1 item in my BIG THREE was writing this post — which some of you may have noticed I have not done in a while.  Writing this post today aligns with my broader goal of writing on leadership in a way that will be helpful to a few people.  The practice that comes from writing blog posts aligns with my broader goal of writing a first book.  Small results that support bigger results.
Are you struggling with “time management?”
How clear are you on which are the “right things” for today?
I’d like to hear your answers, but, please excuse me, I need to get on to my other two items for the day . . . .
Send them to me in an email!
FORWARD THIS TO A LEADER.