The content of this podcast is based on an article series on good leadership, written by Per Winblad, CEO and Editor-in-Chief at Motivation.se. The article series, entitled "Tidlösa Principer för Gott Ledarskap" ("Timeless Principles for Good Leadership"), explores the qualities of a good leader, using King Solomon's proverbs as inspiration *.

This episode focuses specifically on how good leaders master time to maximize their impact.

Strategic Planning and Reflection

Good leaders regularly set aside time for planning for themselves and their team. They plan both short-term and long-term. Through wise reflection backward, clarity is created in what the task requires in terms of work and time. Through a long-term perspective forward, it becomes possible to be foresightful to make the right choices for a successful effort. As leaders, we make things happen by planning for them to happen.

Advice and Cooperation

Good leaders choose advisors who know more and are wiser than themselves. They know that they need support from different people when it comes to planning and implementation. Different individuals contribute with different perspectives, such as long-term versus immediate solutions.

Prioritization and Focus

Good leaders concentrate their time and energy on the 20 percent of activities that contribute to 80 percent of the results. This means that they prioritize the things that give the highest possible return on invested effort. The difficulty of prioritizing and doing the most important things first can be likened to the contrast between a clock and a compass. The "clock" (meetings, activities) and the "compass" (direction, vision, values) illustrates the importance of focusing on what is truly important.

Support Employee Time Management and Development

Good leaders support their employees in managing time constructively. The leader who gets his employees’ priorities to match the group’s most important choices effectively leads the work forward. Good leaders invest their time in employee development. They know that this is the surest way to make their company or organization develop and grow.

Awareness of the Value and Balance of Time

Good leaders know that time is precious... Time can never be reclaimed or made up for once it is gone. They seek to work wisely and realize that not everything may be so essential and therefore can be postponed, delegated or simply chosen away. They plan their time with the understanding of having balance in all the important areas of life. Striving for balance between work, family, relationships and recreation is important for a leader's well-being, energy and ability to be constructive. Few regrets on their deathbed that they didn't spend more time in the office

Action and Evaluation

Good leaders know that action is necessary to achieve results. They regularly evaluate their progress themselves and together with their group. Evaluation is both the last and first step in learning and developing.

Self-Renewal and Routines

Regularly reviewing and developing our routines is important for personal and professional growth. One of our most important tasks is this self-renewal, which is connected to what we choose to plan and implement.

Saying No

Being able to say no to unimportant things is a consequence of having a clear inner "Yes" to what is important in the long term. We gradually learn to say no to things that are not important to us. We find it easier to say “No” to various demands from our surroundings if there is a sufficiently anchored “Yes” within ourselves.

Practical Advice for Leaders

• Invest time wisely, time is your most asset.
• Focus time and energy on the most important activities and regularly ask yourself if what you are doing contributes to your most important goals.
• Eliminate ineffective and unproductive activities.
• Involve and engage your team in the planning process.
• Invest time in supporting and developing your managers/employees.
• Delegate as soon as possible.
• Learn to say "No" by having a strong "Yes" anchored within you for what is important in the long term.
• Evaluate your progress regularly, together with your group.
• Create balance between work, family, relationships and recreation.
• Start the day in the best possible way by taking control and creating a picture for the day.
• Take action - it is only through action that dreams become reality.

Quote from Solomon *

"I, wisdom, will make the hours of the day more efficient and your years even more fruitful!"

"Yes, a handful of peace is better than two handfuls of toil and chasing the wind.

“Do not put your plans into action without first consulting others.”

"If you wait for too good conditions, you will never get anything done.

” It is foolish to dream instead of act, and a multitude of empty words can cause destruction."

” It is encouraging to see your plans take shape."

Conclusion

This episode emphasizes the importance of a conscious and strategic approach to time to be an effective leader. Through planning, prioritizing, collaborating, supporting employees, and striving for balance, leaders can maximize their impact and contribute to both personal and organizational success. The inspiration from the wisdom of King Solomon reinforces the timelessness of these principles.

Source: Excerpts from "Tidlösa Principer för Gott Ledarskap” - a series of articles written by Per Winblad

* According to the Old Testament, Solomon was king of Israel during the 9th century BC. and ruled for 40 years. He was the son of King David and Bathsheba. He is known for his wisdom and for being the one who was allowed to carry out his father's plans to build the temple in Jerusalem. Source: Wikipedia