“It is not enough to be industrious; so are the ants. What are you industrious about?”
—Henry David Thoreau
If there’s one theme that comes up in every coaching conversation—pretty much without exception—it’s the sheer pace of work.
Leaders at every level feel it. The sense of always moving, always working, always adapting to change. And yet, amidst all this motion, there is a simple question:
“Am I actually moving toward something meaningful, or just keeping up?”
The Difference Between Busy and Effective
Thoreau’s insight is a sharp one. Busyness, in and of itself, isn’t a virtue.
Of course, ants aren’t just busy—they work with a clear purpose, each action serving the survival of the colony. But as leaders, the challenge is different. The work isn’t predetermined. It is important to choose what deserves your energy. Without that clarity, it’s easy to mistake movement for progress.
It’s an uncomfortable but important question. Because there’s a difference between motion and progress, between being industrious and being intentional. And if we don’t pause to ask the question, it’s easy to get lost in the momentum of daily demands without ever steering the direction.
I know you already know this, but what to do?
I certainly don’t have a simple answer. Instead, I share 3 questions to serve as a reminder, and to support your ongoing reflection and action in the face of this challenge:
1️⃣ What truly matters in my role?
Not just what’s urgent, but what’s essential. The things that, if done well, will make the biggest impact over time.
2️⃣ How much of my day is spent reacting vs. leading?
When the calendar is full and the inbox overflowing, it’s easy to slip into a reactive state—responding, firefighting, keeping up. But the best leaders carve out space to deeply think and set direction, not just respond to it.
3️⃣ If I did less, would I actually achieve more?
It’s a counterintuitive thought, but sometimes stepping back, saying no, or delegating more effectively creates better results than simply working harder.
Finding Clarity Amidst the Chaos
None of this is easy. And there’s no magic fix. But when leaders carve out even small moments to reflect on where their time and energy are going, they start to see patterns. They start to notice what’s essential and what’s just noise.
And from that awareness, better choices become possible.
