Leadership Tip

How to save time by saying no.

What matters more: the amount of time you work or the results you produce? Any smart leader would say the latter. Yet, many people spend long, wasted hours at work. If you're struggling to keep control of your time and boost your performance, try doing these three things.

  1. Decline meetings. If you don't need to be there, don't accept the invitation. Explain your workload and request to see the meeting's minutes instead
     
  2. Delete emails. Not all of them of course, but only keep and respond to the most important ones. Emails from TEN LTD, don't qualify...!
     
  3. Dilute your effort. If you can't say "no" to a certain request, recognise that it may only require a B effort. Don't spend time bumping it up to an A unless you really need to.

The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme and adapted from Stop Working All Those Hours by Robert Pozen. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please join us on our next complimentary webinar or contact us.

 

Subscribe

Free weekly email on things you didn't know last week with links to articles on leadership excellence. To view previous editions click here.


Learn how to lead effectively

Gleaned from wisdom acquired by working with hundreds of highly successful leaders from the world of business, media and sport, our workshops are fortified with practical tips to help you better lead yourself, your team and your business.

Read More

Leadership Articles

10 weekend habits of purposeful leaders

The most impactful leaders know that success doesn’t come from working around the clock - it comes from working with intention. And that includes how we spend our weekends. While weekdays often revolve around performance, the weekend is a chance to reset... read more

10 actions for effective communication

High-quality communication is an essential element in business and organisational performance. Effective communication relies on engaging with people, having a commitment to building strong and productive relationships and realising that we communicate... read more

10 actions for advancing your career

Standing out at work isn’t about wearing a flashy hat - though, that could help. The more effective way to make an impact is by developing the skills that will get you noticed. Here are 10 strategies for advancing your career: Make skills... read more

Leadership Tips

How to manage a perfectionist

A perfectionist on your team can be both a gift and a drain. They raise standards by default, yet can stall progress by obsessing over minor details. The leadership challenge isn’t to change them, but to channel them. Perfectionists care about quality,... read more

How to make a critical trade-off

Most meaningful leadership decisions involve trade-offs. To do one thing well, you often have to give up something else. The best leaders don’t shy away from these moments — they navigate them with clarity. Next time you’re facing competing priorities,... read more

How to make goals work together

Balancing work and life often feels like a trade-off. But it doesn’t have to. Personal and professional goals can support each other if you connect them. Done well, this approach boosts motivation, eases anxiety, and helps you lead a more integrated life... read more