Multiply Your Time With This Simple Framework

As a leader, your most valuable resource is time. You can’t make more of it. But you can learn to manage it better.

Here’s the truth most leaders avoid: If you want a strong marriage, centered children, and a healthy, growing organization, you must learn to manage your time wisely.

Well-intentioned leaders with poor time management skills are still ineffective leaders.

Just because it’s most urgent doesn’t mean it’s most important. 

Let’s talk about the four key principles you need to maximize your time and invest in what matters most.

1. Schedule your values.

Wise time management doesn’t mean you do more. It means you do more of what matters most, so you need to schedule your values.

Don’t let your calendar be ruled by what’s urgent. When your life doesn’t align with your values, frustration sets in.

If family is important, leave work on time. If your marriage matters, date night isn’t optional. If leadership development is vital, block time to invest in yourself.

Here’s the bottom line: You make time for the things you prioritize. Decide what’s important. Schedule your values. And stick to it.

Ask yourself: What are my non-negotiables—and where are they scheduled on my calendar?

2. Only give your best “yes.”

Most high achievers struggle to say “no.” Why? Because we equate doing more with importance, productivity, and a meaningful life.

But just because you’re busy, doesn’t mean you’re doing the right things. Often the biggest threat to our time is saying “yes” to good things—but not the best things.

By saying “no” to many small things, you create margin to say “yes” to something worthy of your time and energy. Stay focused.

3. Create artificial deadlines.

Here’s the secret that’s helped me lead with greater clarity and less stress: I create fake deadlines.

The pressure of a deadline not only sharpens your focus, but it also makes you more effective.

Here’s what happens when you set artificial deadlines:

• You think faster and make quicker decisions.
• You delegate work to others sooner rather than later.
• You eliminate unnecessary tasks from your schedule.

Don’t wait for the pressure of a real deadline to take action. Fake deadlines create the urgency you need to stay focused and use your time wisely. 

4. Empower the people you lead.

There are people around you with the skills and momentum to lead. Empowering isn’t just a leadership strategy; it’s a game changer.

When you delegate tasks, you build followers. When you delegate authority, you build leaders.

I can ask someone to buy items from a checklist, or I can trust them to handle operations for an entire event. 

The difference? The first accomplishes a task. The second encourages growth and ownership.

Empowering people is strategic time management. The more you trust your team to lead, the more you can focus on what matters most.

You can’t add more hours to your day, but you can lead smarter. Align your time with your values, protect your focus, create urgency, and empower others. Your time is limited—make it count.