Ineffective use of resources costs organizations thousands each year in lost productivity, disengagement, turnover, and burnout
Time and energy are two of our most valuable resources.
Yet many leaders and team members find themselves too busy to invest them in what truly drives results.
Here are three common ways time, money, and energy are used ineffectively:
FIREFIGHTING
Reacting to crises with short-term fixes that don’t solve the root problem. These efforts consume resources and create cycles of stress, poor decisions, and burnout.
THINGS I SHOULD NOT BE DOING
Tasks that provide value but aren’t the best use of a person’s time or expertise. Things that if delegated would allow a person to focus on more high-impact activities.
THINGS NO ONE SHOULD BE DOING
Activities that waste time and energy without adding meaningful value—like unnecessary paperwork, aimless scrolling, or staying locked in conflict.
The Solution: Making More Wise Investments
To increase effectiveness, productivity, well-being, and performance, we need to shift our focus from draining activities to intentional, value-creating work.
Wise investments are proactive efforts that prevent problems, unlock opportunities, and build a stronger future. They include:
Finding the root of a problem
Developing strategy
Setting goals
Delegating effectively
Building trusting relationships
Coaching and being coached
Having and facilitating conversations
Creating and communicating expectations
Gathering and analyzing data
Creating agendas
Monitoring and discussing results
Investing in good and top performers
Giving and getting feedback
Celebrating success
Thinking
Learning individually and as a team
Communicating strategy
Understanding needs
Resting and recharging
Listening
Improving self-awareness and your relationship with yourself
Planning communication
Doing things that bring you joy
Why Are Organizations Stuck Wasting Time, Energy, and Money?
Most people don’t want to spend their day on low-value work. Yet many do—day after day—because it’s hard to break old habits.
STUCK IN “THINGS NO ONE SHOULD BE DOING”
Often caused by overwhelm, low motivation, lack of clear priorities, or seeking easy distractions during stress.
STUCK IN “THINGS I SHOULD NOT BE DOING”
Common when we struggle to say “no,” avoid delegating, or cling to tasks that feel easy, rewarding, or familiar—even when they’re not high-value.
STUCK IN FIREFIGHTING
Firefighting is often praised and rewarded in workplace cultures. It feels urgent, visible, and satisfying—while proactive work like thinking, planning, or building relationships is often undervalued or misunderstood.
WHERE IS YOUR ORGANIZATION’S TIME AND ENERGY GOING?
What percentage of time is your organization investing in each of these four categories?
WHAT’S THE COST OF STAYING STUCK?
How much are Firefighting, Things I Should Not Be Doing, and Things No One Should Be Doing costing your organization each year?
WHAT’S THE VALUE OF SHIFTING TO WISE INVESTMENTS?
How would performance and well-being if people were making more Wise Investments of their time and energy?
How Do We Break the Cycle?
Changing how we use our time and energy isn’t easy—especially when we’re overwhelmed or unsure where to start. But it’s possible with the right mindset and support.
Building awareness, motivation, and confidence starts with:
> Changing your thinking
> Prioritizing what matters
> Starting small
> Shifting your resources
> Staying focused
Want Help Making the Shift?
Through our THRIVE: A Leadership Journey program we offer a proven path to help leaders and teams use their time and energy more wisely—improving performance, well-being, and results across the organization.
LEARN MORE