The Most Valuable Leadership Currency
HINT: It is TIME
"Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day, You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way." — Pink Floyd, "Time"
Time is the one resource we can never get back. No matter how successful, influential, or wealthy we become, we all operate under the same constraint: 24 hours a day, 168 hours a week, a finite number of years to create, lead, and leave a lasting impact.
Yet, how often do we let it slip through our fingers? Meetings that could have been emails, work that doesn't align with our purpose, and moments with loved ones traded for distractions that don't serve us.
Great leaders recognize that time isn't just something to be managed; it's something to be intentionally invested. How we spend our time defines not only our own growth but also the legacy we leave behind.
Are You Using Time or Losing It?
"And then one day you find ten years have got behind you, No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun." — Pink Floyd, "Time"
Life moves fast, and leadership moves even quicker. Too many leaders get caught in the cycle of urgency, reacting rather than leading, filling their time with what feels productive rather than what is purposeful.
The truth is, we don't find time for what matters, we make it. If we aren't intentional, our days will be filled with someone else's priorities instead of our own.
The Leadership Time Audit: Where Is Your Time Going?
Before we talk about how to get intentional with time, let's first assess where it's going.
Ask yourself:
What percentage of my day is spent on what truly matters?
Am I investing in activities that grow me as a leader, or just keeping busy?
What distractions or commitments are draining my energy without real impact?
What would I do differently if I had only one year left to lead?
"The key is in not spending time, but in investing it." - Stephen R. Covey
Becoming an Intentional Leader: How to Take Control of Your Time
1. Define What Matters Most
Before you can manage your time, you must define your North Star. Ask yourself:
What are my top three leadership priorities this year?
What impact do I want to leave on my team, my organization, and my industry?
What personal growth goals am I committed to?
Write them down. Keep them visible. If an activity or commitment doesn't align with them, why is it taking up space in your life?
2. Stop Saying Yes to the Wrong Things
"You are young, and life is long, and there is time to kill today." — Pink Floyd, "Time"
We often say "yes" out of obligation, but every 'yes' is a 'no' to something else. High-impact leaders protect their time fiercely.
Audit your calendar: What can you delegate, eliminate, or decline?
Create boundaries: Are you making time for strategic thinking, learning, and rest?
Use the Hell Yes or No rule: If it's not a resounding yes, it's a no.
3. Make Space for Deep Work and Reflection
Leaders don't just react to problems; they create the future. But that requires thinking time. Schedule:
Uninterrupted Focus Blocks: Time to work on strategic, high-impact goals.
Weekly Reflection: What worked? What didn't? What needs to change?
Learning & Growth Time: Reading, coaching, courses—whatever sharpens your leadership edge.
"The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything." - Warren Buffett
4. Be Present in the Moments That Matter
"And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking, Racing around to come up behind you again." — Pink Floyd, "Time"
Are you fully present in your leadership? Or are you always thinking about the next meeting, email, or milestone?
Presence is the key to influence and impact. Practice:
Mindful leadership: listening deeply, not just waiting to speak.
Quality over quantity: One meaningful conversation is better than ten rushed ones.
The 5-5-5 rule: will this matter in 5 days, 5 months, or 5 years? Let it guide your focus.
Your Legacy Is Being Built Right Now
"The time is gone, the song is over, Thought I'd something more to say." — Pink Floyd, "Time"
What will your leadership legacy be? The truth is, you're building it every single day, whether you realize it or not.
If you want to be remembered as a leader who made a difference, who used time wisely, invested in others, and created something meaningful, then now is the time to act.
This week, challenge yourself: How will I make my time count?
Because the clock is ticking, and your leadership, impact, and legacy depend on what you do with it.
Invest in Your Leadership Journey
Leadership begins with intentionality and reflection. That’s why we designed the Leadership Journal, a powerful tool to help you cultivate your leadership mindset, set clear goals, and reflect on your growth daily. Invest in yourself and your team by creating a practice of mindful, purpose-driven leadership.
“It’s not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”
🛑 Doors are now closed for our Leadership Mastermind.
➡️ Join the Wait List to be the first to know when doors open again!
Resources to Dive Deeper
Books
"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" – Stephen R. Covey: Timeless wisdom on prioritizing tasks, leading with purpose, and managing time effectively.
"Atomic Habits" – James Clear: Practical strategies for making small, consistent changes that compound over time to create big results.
"Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World" – Cal Newport: A blueprint for cutting out distractions and engaging in high-value, deep work.
Podcasts
The Tim Ferriss Show – Conversations with top leaders on productivity, decision-making, and habits. Listen here
The Focused Podcast – Deep dives into productivity, focus, and eliminating distractions. Listen here
The Life Coach School Podcast (Brooke Castillo) – Mindset and time management strategies for high performers. Listen here
Other Resources:
Leadership Journal: Encourages daily reflection and intentionality.
Radical Candor
Radical Candor is a leadership guide that teaches the art of giving honest, constructive feedback while maintaining strong relationships. Kim Scott introduces a simple yet powerful framework for balancing caring personally with challenging directly, helping leaders create a culture of trust, accountability, and continuous growth.
Why Read It?
This book is a game-changer for leaders who struggle with tough conversations. It provides actionable insights on how to communicate with clarity, build high-performing teams, and foster a culture where feedback fuels success—without being overly aggressive or overly nice.
What to Expect
Expect real-world examples, practical strategies, and immediately applicable tools for improving communication, handling difficult conversations, and leading with both empathy and effectiveness. If you want to become a leader who inspires trust, drives performance, and encourages honest dialogue, Radical Candor is a must-read.
Consider how many different pieces of content you see in any given week. See something that resonates with you? Share it with us to feature it in our Social Media of the Week section.
"Time is the scarcest resource, and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed." — Peter Drucker
