If you and your team are too busy, it’s essential to take time to figure out how to work differently. Here are three key strategies you can use to reassess and reconfigure the work you do to free up your limited time and capacity.

Redefine “good enough.” Not every task requires an A+ effort. Set clear expectations around what “fit-for-purpose” quality looks like—for yourself and your team. Encourage bullet-point updates, rough drafts, and right-sized planning. Clarify where you can simplify or cut corners without sacrificing impact.

Eliminate low-value work. Hidden, habitual tasks often waste the most time. Ask your team: “What would we stop doing if we lost a workday each week?” Go beyond surface-level cuts. Reassess reports, approvals, and processes—many are more about tradition than value. And remember that if a change doesn’t work, you can always reverse it.

Scale back your availability. Always being accessible increases your team’s dependence on you. Step out of projects where your presence isn’t critical. Shift to check-ins or on-request advising, reduce meeting time, and explore asynchronous updates. Freeing up your time empowers others to step up and lead.

This tip is adapted from When You’re Overloaded—and Delegating Isn’t an Option by Frans van Loef and Jordan Stark

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