Have you ever found yourself bogged down by meetings that feel urgent but ultimately fail to drive real progress? Many business leaders fall into this trap. They spend an overwhelming amount of time micromanaging tasks rather than advancing the firm’s vision, strategy, and execution.
Not all meetings are created equal. So, as the owner of your firm, you need to ask yourself: “Am I the best person to be running all of them?”
Too often, leaders get stuck in the cycle of follow-ups, status updates, and administrative check-ins. But what if you took a step back? Instead of leading every meeting yourself, spend time empowering your team leads to oversee the meetings for you and report back. Instead of attending multiple meetings a week, consolidate them into one leadership meeting where key takeaways are delivered to you. This will free up time for what truly matters for leaders, like fostering relationships, refining marketing strategy, or setting the long-term direction for your firm. By re-shifting your focus, you’ll shift from being in the weeds to focusing on high-level strategy. You’ll be running your firm instead of working in it.
If you’re constantly tied up in small tasks that seem to be way under your pay grade, ask yourself: What could I be doing instead that would have a bigger impact? Maybe you should be spending more time networking, strengthening client relationships, or brainstorming innovative strategies to grow the business. Your time should align with where your firm is headed. Every quarter, evaluate your calendar. Is it structured to support your business goals? Are you dedicating time to high-leverage activities that move the needle? If not, it’s time to reassess and re-organize.
There is a chance, however, that you’re facing the exact opposite problem. While cutting down on unnecessary meetings is crucial, some organizations have too few, leading to misalignment. When teams are dispersed, working remotely, or operating in silos, a lack of communication can hinder performance. If your content team has no idea what the trial team is doing, and your operations team is disconnected from finance, your overall productivity will take a hit. Without a shared vision, people lose motivation and engagement plummets. In these cases, bringing people together physically — not just over Zoom — can be transformative.
Virtual meetings don’t always foster real engagement. At least half the participants are multitasking, distracted, or mentally checked out. If you don’t believe it, ask a question in a Zoom meeting and see how long it takes for someone to unmute. In-person interactions build stronger alignment, encourage collaboration, and create a true sense of team unity.
At the end of the day, leadership isn’t just about getting things done — it’s about identifying the right things to do and doing them. Whether that means cutting down on unnecessary meetings, or ensuring the right ones happen, your role is to create an environment where your team can thrive. Be intentional about how you spend your time and align your calendar with your highest priorities. Step out of the day-to-day grind and focus on where you can have the most impact. The best leaders don’t just manage their time — they invest it where it truly counts.
