The only way to say yes to impactful work is to say no to busy work

"I'm in charge of unlocking innovation, the scope of my work is huge. My work is stressful, I have so much going on.

I have a high sense of accomplishment and achievement. Yet I am constantly struggling with so much work, feeling like I'm behind.

I'm swamped, so many tabs open in my mind. I feel pressure from multiple bosses and stakeholders.

I felt like I needed some external coaching. You can get lost in the weeds sometimes.

I want to be more focused on the most important deliverables. I have an appetite to do it all but I realize it's not possible. I have to do some traffic lighting."

TRAFFIC LIGHTING. I love that metaphor a client shared with me in our first coaching session together last week.

It's such a great way to express the complexity of what it takes to stay focused in your work, especially if you're a senior leader reporting to multiple senior leaders.

What is traffic lighting?

It's about being intentional in what you prioritize.

When you stop to assess at what you are actually dedicating our energy on on a given day and week, you will find buckets that are way overdue for delegating or even dropping.

What do you give the green light to? Work that is aligned with your KPIs or currently most impactful strategies or projects.

You might start with color coding some projects with amber. That means they're about to from green to red. From being on your plate because they've always been there, to someone else's.

How do you know what gets the green light? This is where your leadership and strategic thinking comes in.

Get crystal clear of what gets prioritized.

The only way to say yes to impactful work is to say no to busy work.

#leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching #prioritization #strategicleadership #strategicthinking