A Leadership Story That Still Sticks With Me
A couple of years ago, I worked with a leadership team that continually frustrated me as their coach. They were passionate, had great ideas, and clearly wanted to do right by their staff and students. But they were also notoriously noncommittal when it came to action.
Time and again during our Coaching calls, I’d hear things like, “Yeah, I’ll get that to you next week” or “We’ll make sure we set time aside to get that done.” The problem? Next week would come and go—and so would the task. There were always fires to fight, distractions to manage, or competing priorities pulling them away from the work they said mattered.
Fast forward two years, and nearly no one from that team is still in the organization.
It’s true what they say: when we fail to plan, we plan to fail.
The Danger of Good Intentions Without Action
Let’s be honest—saying “we’ll set some time aside” sounds good in the moment. It creates a sense of agreement, of forward momentum. But without action, it’s just a placeholder. A vague promise.
For school leaders, that kind of noncommittal behavior comes with a cost:
Instructional priorities slip through the cracks.
Teacher support conversations get pushed off.
Culture-building efforts never leave the whiteboard.
And worst of all? Teams lose trust. They start to believe that follow-through doesn’t matter.
Your Calendar Is a Leadership Tool
If it matters, it belongs on your calendar. Period.
When leaders operate reactively—responding to whatever yells the loudest—they lose the ability to lead with Clarity and intentionality. But when leaders plan for what matters, they reclaim control of their time and their focus.
Here’s the truth: strategic leaders don’t find time. They make time.
They:
Block off dedicated time for coaching and feedback.
Schedule standing appointments for leadership team reflection.
Protect white space to think, recalibrate, and reset.
This isn’t just calendar management—it’s leadership alignment.
Three Shifts to Lead With More Intentionality
Want to avoid becoming like that team I mentioned earlier? Here are three practical shifts you can make right now:
1. Replace Vague Commitments with Concrete Scheduling
Instead of saying, “I’ll get to it,” open your calendar and lock it in. “Let’s meet Tuesday at 2:30” is a leadership move. “I’ll circle back next week” is a dodge.
2. Start Your Week With a Leadership Planning Ritual
Spend 15–20 minutes every Sunday or Monday mapping your week. Ask:
What’s most important this week?
What must move forward, no matter what?
Where will I show up with presence?
3. Treat Your Calendar Like the Strategic Tool It Is
Too many leaders use their calendar to record what’s happening to them. Instead, use it to design the leadership life you want. Fill it with intention, not reaction.
The Payoff: Strategic Time = Sustainable Leadership
When you’re intentional with your time:
Your team sees consistency and follow-through.
You create space to think, support, and lead.
You model clarity, and your school begins to operate with purpose.
And perhaps most importantly—you avoid Burnout. Because running from fire to fire is exhausting. Leading with strategy and presence is energizing.
Final Thought: Don’t Let the Important Slip Away
It’s easy to say, “Yeah, we’ll make sure to set time aside for that.” It feels like commitment in the moment. But hope isn’t a leadership strategy.
Real leaders make space. They plan. They protect what matters.
So here’s your challenge:
What’s the one thing you’ve been meaning to “set time aside for” that you haven’t yet?
Open your calendar. Block the time. Don’t let it get away.
Let’s Bring This Work to Your Team
If you’re ready to gain clarity and lead with greater intention—especially around instruction—start by bringing these four questions to your next leadership team meeting. Sit with them. Reflect on them. And start designing systems that support the answers you want to see.
And if your team could use a guide to walk alongside you in this work, I’d Love to help. Let’s talk about how we can bring this kind of transformation to your school or district.
Together, we can move from firefighting to focused leadership.
Send me a message or visit RoadToAwesome.net to start the conversation.
Tune in this Sunday to “Leaning into Leadership” when I sit down with Joshua Stamper from the Aspire to Lead podcast for our annual join release. This time we are talking about how leaders can best gain clarity and be prepared for their staff to make their way back into the building.
