Busy or Building? How Leaders Stay Focused on What Truly Matters

We are moving faster than ever—more meetings, more initiatives, more urgency. But speed is not the same as progress.

Lately, I’ve been asking a harder question: Are we busy with activity… or are we intentionally building something that will matter a year from now?

Three Key Themes

1. The Activity Trap vs. Meaningful Work

Busyness can feel productive, but without stepping back to assess why new activity is emerging and how it aligns with priorities, we risk spinning our wheels. I’ve seen mid-level managers with great ideas struggle to influence change—especially when underperformance creates a swirl of unproductive motion.

2. Capacity vs. Competency

More time doesn’t always mean more impact. Growth happens when we shift the conversation toward learning and evolving. Leaders must seek relevance through a filter of perpetual learning—not just doing more, but doing better with pragmatic insights.

3. Pace vs. Relevance

The pace of business is intense, but the real issue might be focus. If we’re not in the right conversations, everything feels urgent. Relevance requires a balance between curiosity and action.

This Week’s Ripple Effect

The Real Race Is for Relevance

Organizations that thrive won’t be the fastest—they’ll be the most focused.

Call to Action

Take 15 minutes this week to take a step back. Review your calendar, your team’s priorities, and your current conversations.

Ask:  Who are the leaders of the most important initiatives at your company?  Meet with them and ask two questions:        

• Are you getting the resources needed to deliver on the promise of your effort?  

• What learnings have you had since the start that can improve the outcome if we adopted?