For action-oriented leaders, getting things done comes naturally. The harder skill is making sure you’re doing the right things.
I’m an action-taker.
When I see something that needs to be done, I naturally jump in and do it. And when a new idea hits me, I immediately start thinking about how to make it happen.
Maybe you can relate.
Being wired for action is a strength, but I’ve discovered there’s also a danger that comes with it: constant motion can feel a lot like progress.
John Maxwell captures this in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership through his Law of Priorities. Leaders understand that activity is not necessarily accomplishment.
That’s a lesson I continually have to relearn.
The Addiction to Getting Things Done
Checking something off a list feels good. There’s a little dopamine hit that comes from completing a task, and it makes you want to find the next thing to accomplish.
There can also be an identity attached to being productive.
When people know you as the “get-it-done guy,” being busy can become a source of pride. You become the person others depend on when something needs to happen.
But you can work long hours and still find yourself wondering:
Why am I not getting the results I want?
That’s one of my warning signs.
I know I’ve fallen into the busyness trap when I’m working hard but not seeing the results I want. Instead of slowing down long enough to think strategically, I start filling my schedule with activity.
Focus on What Actually Moves You Forward
One practice that helps me is stepping back and looking at the next week or month in relation to my larger goals.
Gary Keller’s concept in The ONE Thing is powerful here. Identify the goal that matters most, then work backward to determine what needs to happen this month and ultimately what deserves your attention today.
It changes the question from:
“What can I get done today?”
to:
“What do I need to accomplish today that moves my most important goal forward?”
Those are very different questions.
This is especially important if you’re someone who generates a lot of ideas. I’ve realized in recent years that I have far more ideas than I have the capacity to execute.
So I’m learning an important lesson:
A good idea isn’t necessarily a right-now idea.
Some ideas need to be captured for later. Others simply need a “no.”
Put Your Priorities on Your Calendar
Interestingly, I’m often better at helping other people do this than I am at doing it myself.
When I coach someone who feels overwhelmed, I help them sift through everything competing for their attention and identify what really matters. From there, we create specific action steps.
Then comes an important step: put those actions on the calendar, not just on a to-do list.
A to-do list tells you what you hope to accomplish. Your calendar shows what you’ve actually committed time to accomplish.
If you’re an action-taker, you don’t need to stop taking action.
You need to make sure your action is pointed in the right direction.
Avoiding the Busyness Trap
Before jumping into the next task today, ask yourself:
Am I simply being busy, or am I moving my most important priority forward?
Sometimes productivity doesn’t begin by doing more.
It begins by deciding what deserves your attention.
Until next time, make today GREAT!
P.S. If you need help identifying what matters most and turning your priorities into an actionable plan, visit https://mcclurecoaching.com/free-strategy-session/ to schedule a free call to review your goals and develop a strategic plan to accomplish them.
