One of the comments I hear most frequently from busy leaders is, “I don’t have enough time.”

There is an incredible crush of demands on a leader’s attention. Decisions need to be made, data needs to be sorted, e-mail need to be handled, staff need to be managed and fires need to be put out.

What typically ends up happening is leaders default to being led by two things: The opportunity that is currently most “shiny”; or a situation’s “hottest fire” that needs to be put out. In other words, the leaders are no longer truly leading. They are, in fact, being led by what’s shiny or burning right in front of them. In doing this, they build their own “glass ceilings”. They reach an invisible limit to their success and can grow no further.

Of course, not all leaders build glass ceilings.

Some leaders are very effective at utilizing resources around them, managing their supporting staff and making everyone else more productive. With their freed up time, these leaders focus on improving their organizations, expanding their reach, maximizing their productivity, starting new ventures or just enjoying discretionary time.

Want to break your glass ceiling?

Tip 1: Develop a Clear Big Picture  Effective leaders know what they’re working towards. They can quickly tell you what “this year is about” for their organization. They can also tell you what the quarter or month or week is about. They know what they’re building. They can identify what’s most important and prioritize at any given time. The priorities are in the forefront of their mind.

Tip 2: Build a Bridge to the Big Picture  Effective leaders not only think strategically, they think practically, as well. Effective leaders find ways to build a bridge between “the big picture” and today. They know this bridge stands on measurable mid and short-range goals. The planks between the goals are clearly-defined tasks. Some leaders help build those bridges themselves. Other leaders empower others to build those bridges. Either way, they know the bridge needs to be built; or, they’ll never arrive at “the big picture.”

Having a clear “big picture” and a plan (or bridge) to build the “big picture” allows staff to self-organize and manage. It dramatically frees up a leader’s time to focus on progress. “Shiny” opportunities, and fires that need to be put out, can either be ignored or addressed; depending upon how they impede or contribute towards priorities. Either way, they are kept in perspective.

Tip 3: Delegate Effectively  Effective delegation is both a discipline and a mindset.

A Discipline: Delegation takes work. To delegate means to entrust someone else with a responsibility. Effective delegation is a combination of giving away Authority, ensuring proper Skills and sufficient Knowledge (ASK – Authority, Skills, Knowledge) and then assigning that person a clear goal. When people are not successful at accomplishing goals well, or in a timely way, it’s often because there is insufficiency in one or more areas of ASK. The effective leader is able to diagnose this and make sure there is a good fit between someone’s ASK and the job required.

A Mindset: Delegation takes trust. The best delegates for leaders to surround themselves with are project managers. I don’t mean people with that title specifically; instead, I mean people who can take a set of goals and effectively determine the tasks that are required to accomplish those goals. Some leaders struggle to trust. The irony is their fear of others’ failure immediately holds them back and prevents them from further success.

Imagine:

• What could you do with more time?
• How would you spend an extra 10 or 20 hours a week?
• What is one thing you need to do to empower your people to free up that time?