The Choices That Shape Your Leadership

Leadership isn't solely about managing a packed calendar or checking off tasks on a to-do list. The intentional choices you make—the priorities you establish—define your leadership style, how you support your team, and how you guide your organization. These decisions shape the outcomes for your business and your development as a leader. This article reflects on my experiences coaching talented executives to frame and execute their priorities.

When we think about prioritization, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the chaos (yes, chaos) of organizational life. There's always something urgent vying for your attention. As I have often learned, "complex is easy; simple is hard." 

Though they rarely rise to the upper echelons of management, others define themselves by how busy they are. This is a false sense of reality and a projection of the leader. Effective leaders don't define success by how busy they are. They gauge it by the impact they create. As I learned from my grandmother, "If you want to get something done, ask a busy person."

Understanding the Difference Between Activity and Impact

Years ago, I worked with a Chief Scientific Officer who led a fast-growing company. Every hour of his day was filled to the brim, yet he often felt nothing meaningful was getting done. "I don't have a time management problem," he confided, "but I do have a focus problem."

The turning point occurred when he chose to step back, recalibrate, and ask himself one crucial question every morning before meetings began: What can I do today that will most benefit the organization and my team?

Focusing on true impact rather than keeping busy, he could effectively delegate, refuse distractions, and drive results with clarity and confidence.

Also, be wary of the false accomplishment that work is "done." Executive leadership is more likely concerned with the big picture and the broad horizon.

Aligning Priorities with Your Leadership Values

You must first know what matters to you and your organization to guide your priorities. Authentic leaders (see my book Integrity by Design: Working and Living Authentically, available on Amazon) make decisions based on their core values, which are the principles that anchor their leadership style and the culture they aim to build.

It could be innovation, accountability, collaboration, or growth. Whatever your values are, they should guide you like a "North Star," as former Medtronic CEO turned Harvard Business School Professor Bill George described, in determining how to allocate your time and energy.

Ask yourself this the next time you're faced with a decision on how to move forward:

• Does this align with what's most important to me as a leader?
• Does this fulfill the vision I have for my team and organization?
• Will this inspire the outcomes I want to see six months or a year from now?

Keeping values front and center helps you avoid the trap of being reactive. Instead, you're choosing actions that reflect both your short-term goals and long-term aspirations.

Balancing Strategic Vision and Immediate Needs

A recurring challenge in leadership is balancing day-to-day demands with your organization's broader mission. If you become so focused on solving immediate issues—putting out fires—you will lose track of long-term strategy.

The key to managing this tension is being intentional with your time. Commit portions of your day or week to strategic initiatives. Block out uninterrupted time to think creatively, explore opportunities, and anticipate challenges. Simultaneously, ensure operational needs are addressed by empowering your team with ownership and clarity on their roles.

Good leadership isn't about doing everything yourself but paving a sustainable path forward.

Shifting from Time-Based to Achievement-Based Leadership

For many leaders, "achievement" still gets tangled up in the hours spent working. But the leaders who genuinely excel understand that time isn't the metric that matters—it's the outcomes you deliver. You must figure out your solution to the work-life balance or blend challenge.

Evaluate your success not by the clock but by progress:

• How have your choices positively influenced your team's growth?
• What measurable advances have been made toward your organizational goals?
• What have you personally learned and accomplished as a leader?

When you shift from counting hours to counting impact, you move from managing time to designing outcomes. That's where the real power lies.

Practical Tips for Priority Setting

If you're ready to step into prioritization with purpose, start small with these strategies:

1. Define your weekly top three: Set aside time to identify three key wins that will make the most significant difference for you, your team, and your organization.
2. Utilize reflection prompts: Dedicate 5-10 minutes daily to asking questions such as, "Did I act following my core values?" or "What's one thing I could have done differently to be more effective?"
3. Rethink delegation: Trust your team to take on responsibilities they can handle so you can focus on leadership-level priorities.
4. Stay present: Avoid multitasking. Give undivided attention to the conversations, decisions, and actions that matter.

Leadership is a practice, not a one-time decision. You can achieve personal and organizational success by shifting your focus from activity to meaningful accomplishment.

A Call to Action

This week, take a bold step. Set aside 30 minutes to evaluate your priorities. Ask yourself what truly drives impact for your team and organization. Identify one area where you can say no, delegate, or reframe how you invest your time.

Leadership isn't about doing everything; it's about focusing on what truly matters. When you make intentional choices regarding your impact, you aren't just leading; you're transforming.

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About Mike Horne

Mike Horne, Ph.D., specializes in leadership development, organizational growth, and creating thriving workplace cultures. With over 30 years of experience, Mike has dedicated his work to helping leaders and teams unlock their full potential through authenticity, grit, and tailored strategies. From one-on-one executive coaching to guiding large-scale organizational transformations, his passion is clear—helping people and companies grow together. For leaders ready to inspire change, Mike offers the tools and the insights needed to create lasting impact. Pick up Mike's new book, The People Dividend: Leadership Strategies for Unlocking Employee Potential, today.