You must ask the right questions to get the right answers.
Leaders are typically “Type A” individuals who need to stay busy and accomplish tasks. This normally serves them well, but can also be a problem if they are not careful. Being busy for the sake of being busy can lead to unnecessary distractions and waste energy and time better spent elsewhere. Moreover, anyone in charge of anything needs regular time to pause and reflect on what they are doing and why they are doing it. I have found that answering the following five questions can be a useful process before embarking on anything of significance:
- Why am I doing this? It is always a good idea to check in on your motivations for doing something. Be wary of doing things just to keep you busy or make you feel important.
- What else could I be doing with my time? Busy people all know that time is a precious commodity. You usually have to give up something to take on anything new (if you want to do it right). Life is all about making tradeoffs.
- What does a successful outcome look like, and will it warrant the time and energy spent on this project, given other considerations? Basically, what is the return on investment (ROI)? Ultimately, the benefits should always clearly outweigh the costs.
- Who else will benefit from me doing this, and will they truly appreciate my efforts? The more people who benefit from your decisions/actions, the better. However, never forget that they also need to understand and agree that what you are doing benefits them. With rare exceptions, try to avoid actions that only benefit yourself.
- Am I excited and energized about undertaking the necessary work to complete this project? Passion does matter. Very often, you can delegate tasks or activities that move you towards your objective, but eventually, you need to ensure the outcome and will want to pitch in and participate as needed. Do your best to avoid projects that you view as drudgery or find uninspiring.
I am certain there are many other questions you could ask yourself, especially as you drill down on certain issues. This list is only a basic guide to help you get started. If you can’t produce positive responses to these five questions, I highly recommend reconsidering your decision before moving forward. Leadership is not about being busy; it’s about being effective.