Leadership efficiency: the habit wasting your (and your team’s) time
Adobe
Years ago, before smartphones and Google (if you can imagine), I was in a meeting with a leader.
He needed a phone number and called the receptionist to ask for it. He had to reach past his phone book (remember those?) to get to his desk phone. Then we both waited—while he dialed, the phone rang, and the receptionist picked up. He explained what he needed. She found her phone book, looked up the number, and relayed it to him.
It probably felt easier to call the receptionist rather than look up the number himself. However, it was inefficient for the organization. While it was faintly possible that the receptionist had stronger phone book skills, it was 100% certain that he was tying up two people's time for a one-person task—three, if you include me.
Easy ≠ Efficient
Leaders develop habits to stay productive, but some habits unintentionally increase the total workload. They feel easy but create inefficiencies that multiply. Leaders should assess whether their habits improve leadership efficiency or just add work for others.
In the instance above, the inefficiency is obvious. But in most cases, cause and effect are far enough apart that leaders don't immediately see the connection.
Here are five scenarios where doing the easy thing in the short term leads to long-term inefficiency:
#1 What's easy: don't clarify your expectations
Leaders who communicate specific, measurable expectations create clarity and momentum.
Define: "What do I want accomplished? By when? How will success be measured?" This makes it easy for others to follow through.
Set clear expectations to drive results and increase leadership efficiency.
#2 What's easy: don't define roles and responsibilities
A well-structured team is most effective when everyone knows their role.
Clarifying responsibilities prevents confusion, reduces duplicate efforts, and ensures accountability.
Define roles and responsibilities to reduce friction and improve leadership efficiency.
#3 What's easy: just do it yourself
Delegation is most effective when team members have the authority, knowledge, and resources they need.
Equipping your team upfront prepares them to take on more responsibility and deliver results—without constant oversight.
Delegation works smoothly with correct preparation and context, leading to improved leadership efficiency.
#4 What's easy: keep putting out (the same) fires
Don't focus only on symptoms (e.g., employee turnover, client complaints), as they won't address the underlying issues (e.g., culture misalignment, broken processes).
As soon as you see a repeating problem, that is a sign that a deeper issue needs to be addressed.
Effective leadership identifies and addresses deeper issues. It empowers its team to do the same, improving leadership efficiency in the long run.
#5 What's easy: wait until the last minute
One of the most valuable leadership skills is anticipating challenges and opportunities—then preparing for them.
Strategic planning, advance planning, strong onboarding, and clear SOPs help businesses scale without chaos.
Frontloaded effort leads to faster growth and stronger leadership efficiency.
 | Christian Muntean is a seasoned expert in fostering business growth and profitability. With a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership and certifications as a Master Coach, Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), and International Mergers & Acquisitions Expert (IM&A), he guides entrepreneurial leaders through growth, succession planning, and exit strategies. He is an accomplished author of three books, including Train to Lead. Christian resides in Anchorage, Alaska, with his family. Learn More » |
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