Picture it - you're standing at a long all-you-can-eat buffet with your plate in hand. You don't want to overdo it and have a strict calorie budget for the meal. You glance around and zero in on a smart balance of your favorite foods and the most health-concious and nutritious options. While you're tempted to pile on everything that looks good, you have learned the hard way that you never feel all that great at the end of the day when you make that choice!
Now, let's look at your calendar like it's an all-you-can-meet buffet. Just because every meeting invite looks tempting doesn't mean you should pile it all on your plate. The most successful leaders (and diners) are selective, choosing only what is most important and saying, "no thank you" to the rest.
Yet, way too many leaders treat their calendars like they're at a buffet with an empty stomach and no will-power. They click on the "yes" to every meeting invitation that comes their way no matter the topic. They load up their plate (err... calendar) with back-to-back meetings, leaving no room for the essential work that actually matters in the long run.
Great leaders know that just as you can't eat everything at the buffet, you can't (and shouldn't) attend every meeting you are invited to. They carefully select which meetings deserve their time, just as our thoughtful diner chooses which dishes are worth their calories.
This week's Leadership Code Word is: Calendar Curator
Be honest with me - when was the last time you left a meeting thinking "Wow, that meeting was exactly what I needed to be more productive today!"? If you're like me when I was in a senior leadership role, those moments are far too rare. Yet our calendars remain stuffed with meetings that drain our energy and steal our time and our focus.
So are you ready to put your calendar on a healthy diet? This handy Meeting Purge Guide (part of the Leadership Locksmith System, BTW) provides a simple decision framework to help you identify which meetings truly deserve a spot on your plate.
Remember: Your time is a finite resource. Just as you wouldn't waste your appetite (or calorie budget) on mediocre buffet items, don't waste your precious hours in unnecessary meetings.
Your Leadership Challenge: Review your calendar for next week. Identify one recurring meeting that doesn't pass the Meeting Purge test. Then take action - either cancel it (if you can), decline, delegate, or redesign it to be more effective. Your future self (and your team) will thank you.
Then, share this chart with your team so you can get more done! Together, you can create a culture where everyone's time is respected and meetings actually serve their purpose.
Need more help reclaiming your calendar? Let's connect. The Leadership Locksmith System includes proven strategies for taking control of your time while maintaining strong team relationships.
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