Welcome to The Subtle Shift, a weekly newsletter where I share small but powerful ideas to help you lead with clarity, inspire change, and create a lasting impact. This week’s issue is about shifting from urgency to impact, and I hope you enjoy it. If so, please forward this to someone else and encourage them to join the community.
From Urgency to Impact
Several weeks ago, I wrote about the shift from reactive to creative—how too many of us spend our days reacting to external demands instead of intentionally creating the life and leadership we want.
But there’s another subtle shift hiding alongside this dynamic that keeps leaders stuck in reaction mode: urgency.
Urgency Is Stealing Your Impact
Think about your typical workday.
- You start with a plan, but you’re pulled into an “urgent” issue within minutes.
- Emails flood in, each one demanding your immediate attention.
- A team member needs a quick decision.
- A last-minute meeting gets thrown on your calendar.
- A client issue flares up, and suddenly, you’re in damage control mode.
By the time you look up, it’s 5 PM, and you’re exhausted. You were busy all day—but did you make an impact? Unfortunately, urgency tricks us into thinking we’re being productive when, in reality, we’re just being reactive.
The Problem with Leading from Urgency
When leaders operate in a state of constant urgency, three things happen:
- They become reactive instead of strategic.
- Urgent tasks demand immediate responses, leaving no room for long-term thinking or big-picture priorities.
- They prioritize speed over effectiveness.
- When everything is urgent, decision-making becomes rushed, often leading to short-sighted choices.
- They burn out (and take their teams with them).
- A constant state of urgency creates stress, reduces creativity, and leads to disengagement.
If you feel like you’re constantly putting out fires, it’s time for a subtle shift—from urgency to impact.
How to Make This Shift
George Bernard Shaw once said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” I’d argue that the single biggest problem in leadership is the illusion that being busy equals being impactful. If you want to break free from the cycle of urgency, here are three subtle shifts that will help:
1. Replace Urgent Tasks with Intentional Time
Instead of starting your day by checking email or diving into urgent requests, carve out 90 minutes of deep work for high-impact priorities. Treat it as a non-negotiable appointment with yourself.
Ask yourself: If I only accomplished one meaningful thing today, what would it be? Do that first.
2. Shift from Responding to Directing
Leaders shouldn’t act like call center operators, responding to every incoming request. They should set a clear direction and keep their focus on the big picture. If people always come to you with “urgent” requests, they’ve likely been conditioned to do so. Redirect them by asking, “How do you think we should handle this?” This slight shift builds autonomy and reduces unnecessary interruptions.
Ask yourself: Am I reacting to demands or directing my time and energy toward what matters?
3. Protect Thinking Time Like Your Business Depends on It (Because It Does)
Creativity, strategy, and innovation don’t happen in the margins of a chaotic schedule. They require space. At least once a week, schedule a “No Meeting, No Email” block where you step away from the whirlwind and focus on long-term thinking.
Ask yourself: What’s the most important opportunity I’m not making time for?
Lead for Impact, Not Just Activity
You’re not alone if you feel like your days are spent reacting instead of leading. But urgency doesn’t have to be the default. Leadership is about creating impact, not just clearing to-do lists.
The most effective leaders don’t let urgency dictate their days—they take control, set clear priorities, and design their time around what truly matters.
So, as you step into this week, challenge yourself to shift from urgency to impact. Where can you carve out space to lead instead of react?
The results won’t just show up in your productivity—they’ll show up in your influence, your decisions, and your ability to create meaningful change.
Here’s to a week of intention, impact, and successful subtle shifts.
