Great leaders make the most of time and timing

I walked over to a colleagues’ desk the other day. Something wasn’t right. They had that look on their face. A frown hinting at frustration and eyes dripping in dismay.

We talked through what had happened and then I asked an important question. Will you remember this in two years? Will it still be bugging you?

The answer was quick and emphatic. “No, this is not the kind of thing that I’ll be holding onto for the next two years.”

“Okay”, I said, “then let it go for now. You can always address any of it that becomes a pattern. But there’s no harm waiting till everyone is fresh and back from leave in the new year.”

Time and timing are both critically important concepts for leaders to grasp.

With enough time you are able to step away from once off incidents and recognize whether something is a pattern. That allows you to respond appropriately.

The ability to choose the right time to have a potentially difficult conversation is a super power. But it’s a super power you can develop.

It can be helpful even at home. You don’t have to finish that argument at 11pm when neither of you are at your best. Go to bed and talk further over coffee the next morning.

Always ask:

1. Am I sure this is a pattern?
2. Will it still bug me in two years?
3. When is the best time to address it?