There is important time you choose to do the right things that leaders do – and there is time stolen from you. In this ‘Leadership Wisdoms‘ article, you will find out all about how to regain your power and train others how to respect your boundaries, letting you do your own work, rather than theirs.
Just to clarify, Q2 time is what Stephen Covey describes as Important but Non-Urgent work, which can be squeezed by Urgent and Important work (Q1) as discussed in another ‘Leadership Wisdoms’ poster elsewhere. For leaders, Q2 time includes coaching, communication, developing others, planning, strategizing visioning and more. The creative longer-term stuff that can get squeezed out if there is too much Q3 time. You will find another ‘Leadership Wisdons’ poster about Q2 being Better than Q1 here.
This is another thief of Q2 time, where Not-Important but seemingly Urgent work comes your way. If, as a leader, you find too much of your time is being taken up with this sort of work, you can easily take action in four areas.
Firstly, if the work is someone else’s urgent, be disciplined to say ‘No’. They have no right to steal your Q2 time so need to be disciplined by the boundaries you set. There is another poster on this topic too.
Secondly, if the work is not important, reject it, or, if it is within your responsibility, work out who else on your team could do it, with an initial support from you.
Thirdly, if the work seems to be important, recalibrate your assessment of it, ensuring it is at the most appropriate priority level. If such items crop up frequently, take action to schedule better and have a plan to deliver at appropriate times.
Finally, there is always the consideration that some of the Q3 things that get in the way of your own Important and Not-Urgent time need not to be done at all. If they deliver no value, be rigorous with yourself and give permission to your team members to simply stop doing them.
To download the poster, backed by the article and 5 Steps to More Q2 and Less Q3, click here.