3 Things You Can Do to Stop Being the Bottleneck This Week
In working with leadership teams, a common scenario often plays out: I await feedback or responses from the team, only to find a few stragglers that haven’t responded by the deadline. In my experience, these ‘stragglers’ aren’t neglecting their duties or rebelling; they’re simply swamped.
These busy professionals often find themselves inadvertently becoming bottlenecks due to their heavy travel schedules and crucial role in decision-making. Yet, travel isn’t the sole culprit behind bottlenecks. Overwhelm from an overflowing plate of responsibilities is a frequent issue for leaders. If this sounds familiar, you might be inadvertently holding up the show. Here’s how you can change the narrative:
- Time block for Email (then respond to every email or delete): Overwhelm often leads to procrastination, exacerbating the bottleneck issue. A simple yet effective method to alleviate this is to time-block your day specifically for responding to emails. Sending a quick acknowledgment like “Received, will get back to you in 48 hours” not only keeps the team informed but also significantly lightens your mental load. Knowing that you’ve addressed pending emails can free you from the nagging feeling of unfinished tasks and allow you to focus more effectively on other responsibilities. This tactic not only eases your workload but also builds trust within your team.
- Strategic Delegation and Mentorship: If you’ve been trying to do it all, consider this week as the perfect opportunity to find a new protégé’. It’s not just about assigning tasks; it’s about nurturing growth in your team members. When you delegate, take the role of a mentor. Guide your protégé through new responsibilities and oversee the process. This way, you ensure smooth progress and build their capabilities, creating a more resilient and capable team.
- Conduct a Time Audit: Ever realize how when you start tracking your activities, your behavior curiously shifts towards being more productive? It’s a bit like cleaning up your house before the guests arrive! 😄 Use the About-Time Action Planner to log your activities in 30-minute increments. This simple act of tracking can make you more conscious of how you spend your time, often leading to immediate improvements.
Implementing these three strategies can help you transition from being a bottleneck to a more effective leader. Are you ready to make these changes and enhance your team’s productivity this week?
This article first appeared at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/3-things-you-can-do-stop-being-bottleneck-week-keyshala-petitt-ssh3c%3FtrackingId=ae2OgOGT0QDR7daH76xkjA%253D%253D/?trackingId=ae2OgOGT0QDR7daH76xkjA%3D%3D
