Want to Be a More Effective Leader? Fix Your Time Habits

“There is no such thing as time management; there is only self-management.” – Rory Vaden

Let’s get something straight: You do not need to “find more time.” Time isn’t lost. It hasn’t gone missing. It’s not hiding under a pile of unread emails.

You, me, Oprah, your assistant, and the intern who just started last week—we all get the same 24 hours. Time is a constant. It doesn’t bend to your deadlines or expand because you overcommitted.  And your assistant doesn’t have more than you do.

So when you say you’re “too busy” to meet with your assistant, or you “don’t have time” to delegate or clarify properly, let’s call it what it is: a choice.

Time Isn’t the Problem—You Are

This cultural obsession with time as a thing to be conquered is damaging. It puts us in a reactive spiral where we feel like victims of the clock, instead of the ones who own how we spend it.

Here’s the truth: Time has no agenda. It’s not conspiring against you. You’re not at war with it. 

But you are responsible for how you manage your focus, energy, and priorities.

And when you make poor choices with those? You don’t just mess up your own productivity—you derail your entire team’s.

Every Yes Is a No to Something Else

Every time you say yes to a last-minute meeting or a calendar packed wall-to-wall with “just 15 minutes”—you are saying no to something else. Often, the very things that move the needle for your business.

Case in point: skipping check-ins with your assistant because “something else came up.” You think it’s no big deal. But every time you flake, you’re blocking your own progress. You’re the bottleneck. You’re the reason that plan is stuck, that calendar is chaotic, that travel is sloppy. It might sound harsh, but it’s true.

If you’re serious about wanting more efficiency, more capacity, and more sanity? Prioritize the one person whose job is to make all of that happen for you. (AKA: your assistant.)

You Want More Productivity? Start With Showing Up.

Show. Up. To. Your. Damn. Meetings.

Stop thinking your time is more important than anyone else’s. Your employee’s job is not to wait around for you to grace them with your presence. They can’t help you be effective if you won’t even make time to talk to them.

True story: I recently had a call scheduled with a founder whose brand is literally about empowering women. Did she show up? Nope. Did she let me know in advance? Also no. Did she apologize for being so dismissive and rude?  Zilch. Her excuse? “I turned off my phone to work on a deadline.”  (Translation: “My time is more valuable than yours.”)

Here’s the thing: deadlines don’t give you permission to ghost people. You’re not above respect and consideration, even as a CEO. Being “busy” is not a strategy—it’s a lack of planning.

Use Clarity + Accountability

You want things done right the first time? Be clear the first time.

Stop giving half-baked instructions. Stop assuming your team can read between the lines. Stop sending cryptic emails at 11 PM with vague requests like “make this better” or “need this ASAP.”

Say what you want. Be specific. What does success look like? When does it need to be done? What’s the context?

Then hold people accountable without being a jerk. Don’t just assume “they should know.” Confirm they understand. Ask if they need anything. Follow up.

When you don’t communicate clearly, and don’t create accountability, and then get frustrated by the results, that’s not leadership. That’s poor time management and prioritization disguised as being “too busy”.

TL;DR: If you want to use your time better, stop wasting other people’s time.

You don’t need more time. You need better boundaries, clearer communication, and the humility to admit that you’re not using the time you have wisely.

Productivity doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from doing the right things, in partnership with the people who make your world go round.

Start by showing up. Speak with clarity. Respect the clock—and everyone else’s time, not just your own.

And maybe, just maybe, you’ll stop being the reason your team is overwhelmed.

You don’t need more time—you need a better strategy.

If you’re ready to stop running in circles and start leading with intention, let’s talk. I work with executives who are tired of being the bottleneck and are ready to lead with clarity, communication, and confidence.

Executive coaching isn’t about adding more to your plate—it’s about learning how to manage it better.

Click here to learn more about working with me 1:1.