The urgency trap

“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are.”
– Steve Jobs

“We need to do more with less.”

For many leaders, that’s no longer a temporary challenge—it’s the reality of work. Leaner teams. Bigger expectations. More projects. Less time. The pressure to keep everyone moving has never been greater.

The unintended consequence? Leaders can find themselves rewarding responsiveness instead of focus. Every email feels urgent. Every meeting becomes a priority. Teams stay busy, but their best work gets crowded out by constant demands.

In his new book, Pause, our friend and colleague Shawn Vanderhoven explores how leaders can break that cycle. Drawing on original research with leaders from more than 150 organizations—including Amazon, Google, and LinkedIn—he shows how leaders can clarify priorities, reduce competing demands, protect focused work, and recognize how their own habits may be contributing to distraction.

Join us on September 10 to hear Shawn discuss the research behind Pause and the practical leadership strategies that can help your team accomplish more by focusing on what matters most.

RSVP today to get it on your calendar.

One question to ask this week: What could your team accomplish if it had fewer priorities—and greater focus?

One great thing for 08.04.26 – Pause and the online quiz “How Distracting Are You?” are launching TODAY, August 4. Available here!