Coach’s Corner: 3 Words to Live By

To celebrate National Executive Coaching Day, I’m sharing the first thing I teach my C-suite clients: Help them understand why their time is best spent living by these three words. No matter your role, you will likely find them game-changing.

1. Delegate
2. Strategize
3. Showcase

Delegate
Delegation may sound easy, but let’s make sure. Can anyone else do the tasks you are doing today? If yes, then you are not delegating enough. As a leader, avoiding robust delegation could become your detriment. When you delegate well, you gain the space you need to accomplish the leadership duties that encompass your role. In turn, time opens for the other two zones.

Strategize
The strategy zone is the place to spend the majority of your time. Set up a collection of discussions and work time that will help move your business from where it is to where you want it to go. Focus on ways to implement your vision for ESG and DEI initiatives. Think of yourself as deploying sources of capital in these areas: human, leadership, money, and intellectual. And never in equal amounts at the same time.

If you don’t spend at least 50% of your time on strategy, it means you have much more delegation to do. Clear your calendar of things others can handle as soon as possible. You also empower others toward leadership themselves. Then, get ready to deep dive into organizational functions over which you have responsibility and, if needed, enlist the aid of your peers and direct reports to leverage the best results.

Showcase
Often, the most difficult zone for company leaders is showcasing because it requires you to call out your accomplishments to others. Showcasing does not equal bragging–an important distinction. When you showcase a win by your team or the fact the Wall Street Journal recently interviewed you, the value of the entire organization grows. Showcase in an authentic and collegial fashion, and you will boost your personal and company brands. If your organization has an internal or external publication, you have a natural venue for showcasing. You can also showcase your direct reports in front of their colleagues at internal and external business events. Use your creativity. If you need a push, give yourself an assignment of at least one showcase activity per month.

If any aspect of your work doesn’t fit into one of these three zones, remove it from your plate. Each zone should be part of every month of every year. To level out, at first you may spend more time in one than the other. A healthy blend is the goal. The best balance is 20 percent or less in delegation; 50-70 percent in strategy; 10-20 percent in showcase.

For specific ideas and accountability: roshini@roshinigroup.com

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