The Secret to Leading with Impact? Stop Spinning Plates

Why trying to do it all is hurting your impact—and what to do instead

You’re in charge—but it’s hard to tell if you’re actually leading or just barely keeping up.

The meetings won’t stop.
Your team needs you.
And your laptop still calls after dinner.

Leadership often feels like a high-stakes juggling act:

🔥 Put out the fire.
📈 Drive strategy.
🙋 Manage the team.
📬 Check your email (again).

But here’s the truth no one says enough:
Leadership isn’t about doing it all. It’s about doing what matters most.

When “Doing It All” Stops Working

Not long ago, I worked with a newly promoted executive who felt like they were drowning.

Smart, capable, committed—and completely overwhelmed.

“I feel like I’m failing at everything,” they said.

They were trying to be everywhere at once: managing the day-to-day, leading the team, pitching in cross-functionally, and somehow carving out time to think big.

But in trying to do everything, nothing was getting done well.

They weren’t leading.
They were chasing.

The Framework That Changed Everything

When we looked at how they were spending their time, the pattern was clear:
They were focused on what was urgent, not what was essential.

That’s when I introduced a simple leadership filter I call:

🧹 Keep, Throw, or Delegate

It works just like a closet clean-out—except instead of sweaters, you’re sorting responsibilities.

Here’s how it works:

🔹 Keep → What must stay on your plate because it aligns with your strengths, role, or priorities? These are the things only you can do.

🗑 Throw → What can be eliminated, deprioritized, or put on hold? These are time-wasters or tasks with low return on energy.

🤝 Delegate → What can be handed off? Maybe it’s better suited to someone else’s skill set—or it’s a great growth opportunity for your team.

We applied the filter to every major part of their week. What followed wasn’t just a calendar shift.
It was a mindset shift.

What Happened Next

Within weeks, everything changed.

They stopped spinning.
They started showing up calm, focused, and present. Their team noticed too—people stepped up and took ownership.

Most importantly, this leader reclaimed time—not just for work, but for family, thinking, and long-term strategy.

They didn’t hustle harder.
They focused smarter.

And that’s when real leadership started to shine.

Try It for Yourself

If your calendar feels like a chaotic catch-all, try this:

🧠 Look at your week.
📝 List every major responsibility.

Then go line by line and ask:

• What do I need to Keep?

• What can I Throw or pause?

• What’s ready to Delegate?

You don’t need to be perfect.
You just need to get clear.

When you know what only you can do, you free yourself up to lead where it matters most.

The Bottom Line

Leadership isn’t about being busy.
It’s about being intentional.

When you protect your time, you don’t just lead better—
you feel better.

📩 Want help setting boundaries and saying no with more confidence?
Join my free 5-day Say No Challenge—and learn how to protect your time, focus your energy, and lead with clarity.

👉 Join the Free Challenge Now

You know the feeling. Your to-do list keeps growing, your inbox won’t stop, and every day feels like a mad dash just to keep up. Leadership often feels like this constant balancing act—putting out fires, managing your team, and trying to hit those big goals all at once.

But here’s the truth: Leadership isn’t about doing it all. It’s about doing what matters most.

👉 This piece was originally published on Medium. You can read or share the latest version here.

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