Am I working at the right level?
A colleague of mine recently asked if I was working at the right level? Not was I working at a higher level or a more strategic level but at the right level? I paused as it made me think, what is the right level? Is it different for different responsibilities, or can it be a general answer?
How do I know?
Consider asking yourself these questions:
Does your gut gnaw at you to be doing other activities you don't get to?
Do you believe you are doing things others could be doing?
What is the consequence of being too in the weeds, micromanaging, and is it because the wrong people are in the wrong seats?
What is the consequence of being too high in the clouds, not involved to a certain degree? Is the risk for something detrimental to the company too high?
How do I get to the right level?
Delegate
Say no more often. Guard your "yes" responses. To quote James Clear, "Saying no saves you time in the future. Saying yes costs you time in the future. No is like a time credit. You can spend that time in the future. Yes is like a time debit. You have to repay that commitment at some point. No is a decision. Yes is a responsibility,"
Identify your top ROI: Return on Involvement. Where is your time best spent that drives the most value in the company?
Let go. See what happens. Monitor how you feel. Are you energized or stressed about it?
Trust your team, and if that gives you too much anxiety- it's time for a new team.
So ask yourself. Do you need to zoom out or zoom in?
