Everyone needs to get tasks done, but it’s also important to build relationships and develop people. Here’s how leaders can learn to balance their task- and people-related needs at work.
Dani Thompson
2mo
Insightful article! One statement that particularly resonated with me was, “it’s not just about being efficient — it’s about being effective.” In my experience in content marketing, I have often observed the pitfalls of prioritizing quantity over quality. While maintaining a consistent and regular content production schedule is crucial, it should never come at the expense of creativity and strategic thinking. When creatives are pressured to produce content rapidly without adequate time for ideation and strategy development, the result is often subpar, uninspired work that fails to engage or differentiate. Effective leaders understand the importance of balancing high performance with strong interpersonal skills. They foster an environment where creativity and strategy coexist, recognizing that both are essential for impactful outcomes. A strategic approach devoid of creativity can be as ineffective as creative ideas without a solid strategy. Thus, leaders who can seamlessly integrate these elements are the ones who drive true innovation and sustained success. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a few great leaders throughout my career that have been excellent examples of this!
Sami Duman
2mo
Missing Corporate-wide Performance Criteria/Evaluation at individual level, results in criticising high performers rather than focusing on inefficient ones. Everybody should perform their tasks effectively, efficiently and in high quality, for Corporate Success. This can only be achieved by Leaders, having domain expertise and state-of-the-art management skills.
'The irony is that an intense focus on efficiency and getting things done makes these leaders less effective overall....... Overly task-focused leaders also tend to be more reactive, operating from a position of fear, and often displaying highly directive, controlling, or perfectionist behaviors that can alienate others and be disempowering to their teams.' So true & greatly insightful - thank you for surfacing Rebecca Zucker & Harvard Business Review!
Jamie Lord
2mo
Great perspective here! Striking the right balance between task completion and relationship building is crucial for effective leadership. By prioritizing both, leaders can foster a productive work environment and a supportive team culture. Positively!
Lawana S.
2mo
As people are promoted into leadership positions, their ability to train, coach, cultivate & develop their people isn't highly valued even while performance is. However, if this was a part of how leaders (themselves) were evaluated, it would receive a higher priority.
Rajeeb Ghosh
2mo
Simply Leaders fail becos they have bad leaders over the years and haven’t got good lessons in the past !
Sheldon Douglas
2mo
HBR - please consider using "HBR - Archives" or something like that to let people know the article is 5 years old. Good article, but...
Paula Nanita
2mo
Always good to remember
Commercial & Contracts Manager ▬ Operation Leader ▬ Construction Scaffolding Services
2moSuccess hinges not just on tasks but on people. As the saying goes, 'Leaders build bridges, not walls.' Balancing task-focus with empathy and connection is vital. Pause and recognize your team's efforts because 'a small act of kindness can make a big impact.' Remember, 'People are the real assets,' and true success comes when we uplift each other.