Insight Exchange: Coaching Chronicles
Real lessons, real growth—shared anonymously.
I work with high-performing founders, executives, and leaders who are in pursuit of many achievements, including impact, sustainable leadership and performance, a healthy and thriving culture, and overall greatness. In our coaching sessions, real challenges and opportunities surface, and powerful insights emerge.
In an effort to create a brave space for contemplation, experimentation, & revolutionary change, I’m sharing these session insights to offer perspective, spark reflection, and support growth.
Whether you’re leading a team or organization, coaching awesome humans, or navigating your development, I hope you find value in these shared insights.
Note: these insights have been edited to maintain confidentiality and anonymity.
Overwhelm & The Illusion of Doing It All
High performers often believe that saying yes to more is the expected path to success. We tell ourselves that more effort leads to more results—that being busy equals being productive. But the truth is, not all work is created equal, and not all tasks are meant to be completed by us. Sustainable leadership requires learning how and when to say no. The most successful leaders don’t do everything; they do things of the highest value.
The Challenge
A founder came into our coaching session overwhelmed. Their calendar was packed, their inboxes across multiple accounts were never empty, and almost every hour was accounted for. They were clear on their mission, yet their time was consumed by tasks that left them reactive, unfocused, and disconnected from their deepest impact, their why, and feeling fulfilled.
Their question wasn’t "How do I do more?" They had many questions, like: "How do I decide what to do? How do I delegate and prioritize? How do I feel better?"
The insights from our session reveal a crucial leadership truth: Success isn’t about doing more; the key to unlocking your highest impact isn’t about working harder—it’s about working selectively on what drives value.
This article will guide you through The Impact Compass, a simple yet powerful framework for deciding what truly deserves your attention and what can be reframed, eliminated, delegated, or deferred.
If you’ve ever felt like you can’t figure out how to do it all, overwhelmed by commitments, or stuck in a cycle of constant busyness, this approach will change how you lead, work, and live.
The Myth of Doing It All
Many high achievers operate under a hidden assumption: If I don’t do it, it won’t get done…(well).
This belief creates a dangerous cycle: ✅ Saying yes to everything → 🔄 More tasks, less time → ❌ Less energy for strategic thinking and life → ⚠️ Burnout
The problem isn’t your ability—it’s your approach to decision-making and prioritization. Instead of asking, Can I do this?, shift your mindset to Should I do this?
If you’re leading a small team or are a solopreneur, your answer to Should I do this? Might be ‘no,’ and yet you will still have to do it if you cannot delegate it. Note the task separately on a list of tasks/projects/roles to delegate later on when you’re better resourced.
The Impact Compass: A Four-Filter Framework for Decision-Making
Not all work is created equal. Before taking on new initiatives, projects, tasks, or commitments, use the Impact Compass to assess whether they are worth your time and energy.
The Four Filters
🔹 Foundational – Is this a core responsibility or required for operational continuity, integrity, or leadership responsibilities —even if it’s not energizing? If this has to be completed, does it need to be completed by me?
🔹 Resonance – Does this align with the values and long-term vision?
🔹 Impact – Will this meaningfully contribute to success or strategic outcomes?
🔹 Energy – Do I have the capacity to engage in this fully? What else can be deferred or delegated if I need to complete this task?
📉 Guiding Principle: If a task doesn’t pass at least one (and ideally two or more) of these filters, it likely isn’t worth your time.
✅ Reframe Tasks That Must Be Done:
Some responsibilities are non-negotiable. If a task doesn’t pass Resonance, Impact, or Energy but is Foundational, you can:
Reframe them as leadership responsibilities.
Redesign how the task will be completed to reduce friction and tension (batching, time-blocking, simplifying, etc.).
Delegate or automate where possible.
❓Tasks that don’t pass any filter? Those are your signals to let go, defer, or question the task entirely.
✅ Example: A founder is asked to review compliance docs. It’s not exciting (Resonance), won’t yield short-term value (Impact), and feels tedious (Energy)—but it is essential for company governance (Foundational). Decision? Prioritize with structure, not avoidance.
The Hard Part of Letting Go
Saying no—or letting go of commitments—can feel uncomfortable. Why?
Fear of missing out (FOMO)
Guilt surrounding disappointing others
Ego attachment to being seen as capable, indispensable, and perfect
The reality is: Letting go is not failure. It’s focus.
By removing low-value commitments, you create space for: ✅ Deep work ✅ Creative breakthroughs ✅ Strategic leadership ✅ Personal well-being
🔹 Reframing Question: Instead of asking, What will happen if I don’t do this? Ask, What will happen if I focus on what truly matters?
The Let-Go Ritual: A Weekly Practice for Leaders
To truly integrate selective action, create a simple Let-Go Ritual every week:
📌 End-of-Week Reflection:
What drained my energy this week?
What commitment/action/tasks no longer feel aligned?
What’s one thing I can delegate, delay, or remove from my plate?
Challenge: Each week, commit to an objective review and let go of at least one thing that no longer serves you. Small shifts lead to big transformations.
Final Thoughts: Leading with Intention
The best leaders aren’t the busiest ones. They are the ones who choose wisely, act decisively, and lead intentionally.
🌟 Your Next Step: Apply The Impact Compass this week. Before taking on a new task, filter it through Foundational, Resonance, Impact, and Energy. Notice how it changes your leadership and focus.
📩 Want to go deeper? Assess where your time is going—and how to make smarter, high-impact choices. Let’s talk. Book a Discovery Session to refine your decision-making and leadership.
By shifting from doing it all to doing what truly matters, you reclaim your time, energy, and success.
