The SECRET way I get more done in 4 days than most people do in 5 (and how you can easily copy my method!)
“How the hell do you get so much done in JUST 4 days??!”
When my Ops Manager asked me that while I worked in a fast scaling start up, I was faced with a dilemma.
Should I tell her the truth?
Or mask it a little to make it more palatable?
Because the truth of how I get so much done in such a short time is NOT what most executives would tell their staff.
And, some people might think that it was actually detrimental to tell a fairly junior person this strategy.
In the end, I decided to do both, because I knew how damaging the “wrong” answer could be.
The “wrong answer” is a sure fire road to burnout.
But the truth is the secret to being the most productive person and leading the most inspiring team in the company.
So I told her:
➡️ “2 things: I am VERY careful about who we hire. And I think VERY carefully before I do anything.”
Every week, what felt like hundreds of “emergencies” came into my Slack, with people asking for my opinion, help or a solution.
❌ And the reality is that in most cases, I didn’t actually need to do ANYTHING AT ALL.
I certainly didn’t need to drop everything and answer.
➡️ 90% of the time, one of two things will happen:
↳Either the problem turns out to be not such a big deal after all once the personal urgency has worn off.
↳Or, the person asking will solve it themselves.
Of course, not doing anything takes practice! Particularly when we’re addicted to the validation of being needed, and the identity as the person who solves problems.
But that’s the difference between being a leader and an individual contributor.
Leaders LEAD.
And sometimes, that looks like doing nothing.
Share this post with someone who is always jumping in to help so that they can tap into my secret too.
Executive Coaching
Leadership & Management
Productivity
