Unmasking the Calendar Shield

Addressing the Illusion of Busyness in Leadership

Why It Happens

1. Avoidance Behavior: Leaders might feel overwhelmed by the demands of their role and use a packed calendar as a shield to avoid uncomfortable conversations or responsibilities.
2. Lack of Prioritization: Senior leaders may not prioritize open communication or view it as secondary to operational tasks.
3. Cultural Norms: In some organizations, a busy calendar is mistakenly equated with being productive or essential, perpetuating the habit.
4. Poor Time Management: Leaders might not realize how their packed schedule affects their team's ability to perform effectively.

The Impact

1. Erosion of Trust: When employees can’t access their managers, they may feel undervalued, leading to disengagement.
2. Inefficient Problem Solving: Blocked communication slows down decision-making and prevents real-time resolution of issues.
3. Reduced Collaboration: Team members lose opportunities to align goals, share ideas, or seek mentorship, which stifles growth and innovation.
4. Missed Leadership Moments: Managers lose the chance to provide guidance, feedback, and support, which are essential for fostering a high-performance culture.

Solutions

1. Address the Perception of Busyness

• Calendar Transparency: Encourage managers to mark time for "administrative tasks" or "focus work" clearly, so it’s evident that availability can be created.
• Role Modeling: Leaders should demonstrate how to balance a full calendar with accessibility to team members.

2. Build Accessibility into Schedules

• Open Office Hours: Designate regular time slots for one-on-one or team check-ins where employees can approach without appointments.
• Drop-in Windows: Create "flexible hours" in the calendar, allowing team members to connect without formal scheduling.

3. Enhance Accountability

• 360-Degree Feedback: Include accessibility as a metric in performance reviews for managers and leaders.
• Communication Training: Train managers on the importance of accessibility and how to make themselves available effectively.

4. Promote a Culture Shift

• Reframe Productivity: Shift the focus from busyness to outcomes, emphasizing that availability and collaboration drive success.
• Empathy Campaigns: Encourage leaders to remember their own experiences of needing access to their managers and act accordingly.

5. Leverage Technology Wisely

• Calendar Management Tools: Use software to ensure that calendars reflect a balance of meetings, focus time, and open slots.
• Team Dashboards: Share leaders’ schedules transparently with clear indicators of availability.

Leadership’s Role in Addressing the Issue

Leadership must address this problem with urgency by:

• Setting Expectations: Clearly define that part of every manager’s role is being available to their teams.
• Providing Resources: Offer tools and techniques for better time management and effective scheduling.
• Modeling Behavior: Senior leaders should lead by example, showing that being accessible and approachable is a priority.

Call to Action for Leaders: Challenge managers to take a critical look at their calendars. Ask:

• Are you genuinely unavailable, or does your schedule reflect poor prioritization?
• How often are you making time to connect with your team members meaningfully?

By fostering open lines of communication, organizations can dismantle the hiding-behind-the-calendar trend and create a culture where accessibility and leadership go hand in hand.

Contact: peter@fullspectrumleadership.com

Peter Comrie of Full Spectrum Leadership

Tags. #avoidance #trust #collaboration #accountability #role model #Peter Comrie