Have you ever scheduled a call for the time you’re going through security at the airport? Are you back-to-back in meetings every single day? Do you eat lunch (and dinner) during meetings? I’m sure you have and we have too. We know what it’s like to over-optimize — filling every available second of our calendars with “work” because there’s so much to do and we’re needed.
There will always be days or weeks where our time is scheduled wall-to-wall and that’s ok. But you are doing yourself and your company a disservice if you are overscheduled throughout the year. You need time to occasionally slow down, reflect, and think bigger picture. If you don’t actively work to defend some of your time, that won’t happen on its own. Feeling “busy” is not a goal unto itself and if we find it happening to ourselves for an extended period of time, it can be a signal that we;re not scaling effectively in our roles as CEOs.
1. You feel guilty
Transitioning from the early days, where you have a greater operational role at your company, to the later stages, where you have a more clearly defined managerial role, can be unnatural, leading you to feel guilty that you’re not working directly alongside your team on every late night fire drill. Showing your team that you work hard too is important, but there’s a time and place to do that and it’s not everyday.
2. You’re building the wrong team
If you’re constantly dropping down into operational work just to keep the trains running on time, ask yourself if there’s an end in sight or if this is a pattern you always run into. Work yourself out of operational tasks, don’t commit to take them on indefinitely. It’s not your job as CEO.
3. You’re letting your ego get in the way
“Ego is the Enemy” by Ryan Holiday is a quick read and we highly recommend it. If you don’t have the time, a key takeaway is to accept that we all have ego; it’s completely normal and okay. And it’s just a question of whether you let your ego blind you and negatively impact decision-making; or whether you’re able to catch yourself in the moment, set aside what your ego may be whispering in your ear, and make a well-reasoned decision in spite of your ego.
Ask yourself if you really are the right person that must attend that sales pitch or lead that roadmapping session… Or is it just your ego telling you you’re the chosen one?
4. You haven’t “unlearned” how to work
- The early bird catches the worm
- No pain, no gain
- Hard work pays off
- Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today
- Keep your nose to the grindstone
You’ve heard these proverbs from your parents, friends, teachers, managers, mentors and storybooks. And you’ve internalized them, literally. These expressions have helped you get this far, in life and with your business, so when in doubt, you fall back on your strong work ethic to power through each day.
Unfortunately, there’s a diminishing return on the time you invest doing work this way as a scaling CEO and you need to unlearn how to work. Challenge yourself to think a few more steps ahead instead of just putting your head down and “working” in the same style you have previously.
References
Riding the rollercoaster called stress
Becoming the next CEO your company needs
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