[INTERNAL MEMO]
Too Available
Hey team,
As we go into the week, I want to share a reminder about something that’s become increasingly important as we scale:
The most expensive mistake we can make as leaders is being too available.
Being available 24/7 feels generous. It feels supportive. It feels like “good leadership.”
But when it’s not intentional, it costs you A LOT:
Your energy
Your proactivity
Your creativity
Your ability to make clear decisions
And ultimately, your team’s development (because we become the shortcut instead of the coach)
A calendar that is full by DEFAULT is rarely a sign of effectiveness.
It’s usually a sign of one of three things:
We are missing key people
We haven’t delegated fully.
We haven’t set clear expectations.
We’re still letting other people’s urgency override our priorities.
That said - here’s the nuance I want to add:
A full calendar is appropriate during certain seasons.
Some weeks or cycles naturally require more from us:
When onboarding a new exec or leader
When you’re building or REbuilding a system
When you’re making a major strategic decision
When you’re resetting expectations or aligning on company direction
When there’s a real crisis (not a perceived one)
During these seasons, more communication and touch points are part of stabilizing the foundation.
They’re purposeful and they eventually reduce the total load.
The red flag isn’t a full calendar.
The red flag is a full calendar that never changes, REGARDLESS of the season (I know many of you will resonate here)
Because sustained overload means one thing: You are operating your role reactively rather than architecting it proactively.
So here’s the challenge for the week: Audit your calendar with honesty.
Ask yourself:
Which meetings still require my presence and which only require my leadership through someone else?
What calls exist because I haven’t documented a decision or expectation clearly?
Where am I being a crutch instead of developing the person who should own this?
Which meetings energize me because they are high-leverage - and which drain me because they’re filling a gap in structure?
Is this week a “full calendar season” for a strategic reason… or just habit?
Your job as a leader is not to be in every room. Your job is to build a team that can operate without you in the room.
Make your presence with your team intentional, not automatic or assumed.
And remember: the business and your department moves faster when we reserve our energy for the handful of decisions and conversations that truly require our level of judgment.
Let’s get it 🙂
-Leila
Ps. Want to receive these memos in your inbox (completely free)?