You're swamped with urgent leadership tasks. How do you make time for essential coaching sessions?

As leaders, we are always pressured by the urgency of tasks. Prioritizing and dedifferentiating what is most important is what makes a difference. What have I done to make time for my coaching? I keep in mind the story shared by Stephen Covey: Sharpen the Saw! A woodcutter strained to saw down a tree. A young man who was watching asked “What are you doing?” “Are you blind? I’m cutting down this tree.” The young man reply “You look exhausted! Take time to sharpen the saw! If you sharpen the saw, you would cut down the tree much faster.” The woodcutter responded “I don’t have time to sharpen the saw... I’m too busy!” And of course the woodcutter had to work harder and harder over time... with a saw that was loosing its capacity to cut!

By delegating tasks and scheduling others for more opportune times, the leader: Creates space in his/her schedule to dedicate himself/herself to developing his/her leadership skills. Entrusts responsibilities to his/her employees, contributing to the growth of the team. Ensures that coaching becomes a regular practice, driving leadership growth. By distinguishing between what is urgent and what is important, the leader ensures that his/her actions are aligned with his/her strategic objectives.

Effective time management serves as the foundation of successful leadership. To seamlessly incorporate coaching into your hectic schedule, treat it as an essential meeting with yourself. Allocate time in your calendar just as you would for any high-priority project or task. This commitment might require you to adjust your routine with early mornings or late evenings; however, the investment will yield significant dividends in the form of heightened leadership skills. By setting aside coaching sessions during your peak performance hours, you guarantee that you are fully engaged and maximizing the true potential of the experience.

When scheduling coaching sessions you> Demonstrates commitment, sending a clear message to the team about the importance of personal development. Increases productivity by providing tools and strategies to improve efficiency and performance. A more developed leader is able to think more strategically and make more effective decisions. Improves well-being, helping with stress management and work-life balance.

It's paramount for any leader to be clear about their priorities, which means sometimes it's not 'or' but 'and.' Coaching your team is part of showing leadership, so it's leadership AND coaching, not leadership OR coaching. You may have to shorten some sessions, give them tools/questions to explore independently, or delegate leadership tasks to someone else, but finding time for both is vital.

By communicating to the team the importance of these moments and establishing clear limits, the leader: Demonstrates commitment: Shows that self-development is a priority. Models behavior: Encourages the team to seek their own growth. Respects their own time: Values their own need to learn. Ensures focus: Allows coaching sessions to be carried out with full attention.

Streamline processes and minimize time spent on low-impact activities, allowing you to concentrate on what truly matters. Utilize tools and techniques to work smarter, not harder, creating valuable time for coaching sessions. Keep in mind, coaching is a highly effective means of developing leadership skills, aligning perfectly with the objective of maximizing productivity. Dedicate time to coaching and experience its transformative impact on both personal and professional growth.

By using online platforms, leaders can: Eliminate time spent commuting, optimizing their schedules and saving time: Hold sessions at any time and place, adapting to their routine and increasing flexibility Have access to a variety of coaching materials and tools. Find qualified professionals in different areas and locations. Online coaching is a powerful tool for leaders seeking personal and professional development without compromising their schedules.

Reflection transforms coaching from a one-off event into a process that is integrated into the leader’s life, shaping their identity and leadership approach. Deepening learning transforms coaching into an ongoing journey of growth. Increases effectiveness and adapts strategies based on results. Strengthens commitment and reinforces the importance of self-development. Integrates coaching into routine and makes it a consistent and valuable practice.

When we feel like we can't get things done, it's often worth re-framing the situation. So instead of thinking of coaching as one more thing to do, think of it as a foundation that allows us to do all of our tasks more effectively, and more efficiently, and often in a way that leads to greater satisfaction and fulfillment.