80/20 Leadership: Shifting Energy Focus for Maximum Impact

"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule but to schedule your priorities."

~ Stephen R. Covey

The Realization of Time Well-Spent

Have you ever noticed that a lot of our time and energy gets sucked up by problems or with those who might demand more of our attention. 

Being an Entrepreneur, co-parenting, coaching sports and trying to manage other personal relationships - time and energy are at a premium.  I had the rare opportunity last week to have a very nice one-on-one date with my 8-year-old son which prompted a revelation that struck me like a ton of bricks. We don't engage in these moments nearly enough, and it's not because we don't need to.

My son who is 8 is very mature. Life has thrust a lot upon him at a young age, fostering independence beyond his years. With a four-year-old sister demanding individual attention, Jack has learned to often navigate his own path, which often means sacrificing on his part. However, it's unfair to assume he doesn't crave or benefit from individual attention and one-on-one presence. Such focused energy could only ignite more passion and growth in him. This realization got me thinking about leadership in various contexts, including my work as a leader.

Where Do We Put Our Focus?

Where do we allocate most of our time and energy? It typically goes to addressing problem areas, extinguishing fires, and dealing with more demanding or challenging team members. Balancing it all is a real struggle and we aren’t always going to get it right.

Imagine a paradigm shift where more of our time & energy are devoted to fostering positivity and driving growth. Picture processes supporting teams built around how things should work, rather than reacting to what we want to avoid (consider the last significant HR policy—often derived from exceptions or the voices of a select few).

Time for an Energy Shift

Currently engrossed in Ted Nolan's new book “Life in Two Worlds” and his journey to coaching in the NHL, I am struck by his coaching style, which emphasizes focused presence with each team member and really getting to know his team. Weekly meetings with each player allowed him insight into their lives and potential contributions to team struggles. Feedback from the entire team now informed decisions geared toward the majority, not just the whiners and complainers.

For leaders, parents, coaches, and managers, the question becomes: How can we find more time to connect and distribute our energy more meaningfully? How can we shift from reactive problem-solving to proactively engaging the team with the right energy? It might be as simple as blocking focus time in the calendar to a more complex solution that engages more of your team. 

Closing Thoughts

"Spend more time on what gives you energy than what takes it away."

~ Darren Hardy

Personally and professionally, I've committed to monitoring this more closely. For our community of leaders, your thoughts and insights are welcome.