Time Management for Managers
Most managers don’t struggle with not having enough time—they struggle with not knowing what matters most.
Time management is leadership. How you spend your time shows your team what you value. If you're always firefighting and never thinking strategically, your team learns that short-term chaos is the norm.
Great managers protect their time, focus on high-impact work, and help their teams do the same. That’s how you build a culture of focus and trust—not just output.
Culture: Your Calendar Is a Signal
At companies like Basecamp, leaders are intentional about time. They work in focused blocks, avoid unnecessary meetings, and model deep work. The message is clear: your time matters here.
If your calendar is packed with low-priority meetings, task-hopping, and constant status checks, your team will mirror it—and burn out fast.
✅ Strategy: Audit your calendar weekly. Ask: “What can I remove, delegate, or automate?”
Retention: Burnout Starts with Bad Time Habits
Managers who are constantly overwhelmed tend to pass that urgency downstream. They respond to everything reactively, which creates anxiety and churn for their teams.
Indra Nooyi was known for maintaining energy and clarity through rigorous time discipline. She was present when it mattered, made space for strategic thinking, and didn’t waste her team’s time.
✅ Strategy: Teach your team to protect their focus. Be ruthless with prioritization. Respect their time as much as your own.
Productivity: Work Smarter, Not Longer
You don’t need more hours. You need better boundaries and clearer priorities.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, starts his day before 4:00 a.m. But the secret isn’t the early start—it’s that he’s deliberate about where he puts his energy. He focuses on what only he can do—and delegates the rest.
✅ Strategy: Identify your highest-leverage activities. Schedule them. Protect them. Delegate everything else.
How to Manage Time Like a Leader
✅ Block focused work hours
✅ Limit meetings (and make them count)
✅ Say no to good ideas that don’t serve your top priorities
✅ End your day with a plan for tomorrow
Time is your most valuable resource. Manage it like a leader, not a manager.