I worked once with a team where projects were regularly late, and people always seemed overwhelmed. When we dug into it, the real issue wasn’t effort — it was delays in decision-making. Team members would hit a snag and wait days for leadership input. By the time the issue surfaced, it was too late to recover.
We made one simple change: I set aside two short windows every day where anyone could reach me directly with questions or approvals. Problems that used to fester for a week were now solved in 10 minutes. The pace of work picked up, deadlines were met, and stress went down.
That experience reinforced a simple truth: accessibility is not about being available 24/7 — it’s about being reliable, responsive, and present when your team needs you most.
Two Simple Practices to Start Today:
- Set Access Points. Define two clear times each day when team members know you’re available for quick help. Stick to it and make it part of the team’s rhythm.
- Run a Bottleneck Check. At your next team meeting, ask: “Where are things stuck right now?” Identify one roadblock and clear it before the week is out.