I'm not ??Busy, I'm ??Engaged.

I was invited to work with a team of the top HRBPs in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East for one of the world's largest financial companies. The CHRO, adapting to his new role in Asia, conveyed a genuine concern for his team's wellbeing. Coming from a Western background, he was perplexed by his team's reticence and perceived aloofness. He observed that they were hesitant to open up, share ideas, show initiative, or engage with the new policies he was introducing from the corporate headquarters. Eager to foster a more open, energetic, and united team environment, he envisioned our Chief Delighting Officer program as a catalyst to enhance team cohesion and camaraderie.

During my workshop prep, stakeholder interviews revealed a consistent pattern: the CHRO, despite his kind wishes to show care, seemed too preoccupied to truly listen. He allowed meetings to be often interrupted by people who knocked on the door, accepting urgent calls, and emails leaving little time for meaningful conversation. This leader's constant multitasking led to frustrations. Team members felt disrespected, rejected, unheard, and unvalued.

"Can't You See That I'm Busy?"

Do you think highly about a leader who usually responds to a simple "How are you?" with "I'm super busy!"? Do you admire them more for it? Does it convince you they're adept at managing their time and delegating effectively? Does it imply they're strategically ahead or merely reactive? Do they appear energized and passionate about their work, or do they seem bogged down, stressed, and overwhelmed? And does it suggest they maintain strong relationships with their team and family?

The glorification of the "I'm so busy" status is rooted in the perception that mistakenly equates constant busyness with high productivity, importance, and success. Being perpetually busy isn't a leadership accolade to aspire to.

The downsides of "Too Busy Leadership"

??Strained Relationships: When a leader is always rushing and unavailable, team members can feel unimportant, and unvalued (do not deserve the leader's time). This usually leads to low morale, decreased engagement, and higher turnover.

??Communication Breakdown: Leaders who are constantly busy may not have time for effective communication, leading to misunderstandings and missed opportunities.

??Work-Life Balance: The "always-on" mentality of busy leaders can set an unhealthy precedent for the entire team that being busy is the desired norm, blurring the lines between work and personal life.

??Stress and Burnout: The constant pressure to be busy can lead to chronic stress, exhaustion, and burnout of the leader and the impacted busy team.

??Indecisiveness and creativity drought: Without the leader's presence, guidance, and effective delegation, teams may struggle to make timely decisions. They become less likely to voice concerns and share new ideas.

Words Change worlds

??The word Busy often carries a negative energy. It distances you from others, unintentionally implying that you're unavailable or unconcerned with their well-being. It can make people feel rejected and unimportant. Furthermore, a constant state of busyness sends stress signals to your body, potentially harming your physical and mental health.

??The word Engaged, on the other hand, has a positive energy. It conveys focus, enthusiasm, and active involvement in a specific task or goal. Saying you’re engaged suggests commitment and purpose. It fosters a positive perception and shows that you prioritize meaningful interactions.

You may ask: "But when you’re overwhelmed by a deluge of tasks, how can you address urgent priorities while ensuring team support and maintaining their sense of value and respect?"

Next time when you're asked "How are you?" in such a situation consider answering with:

"I'm engaged, and I will find the time for you."

You can send a strong signal that you are making efforts to be available, yet keep on charging the urgent things. You make people feel significant and valued.

By actively showing that you are making an effort to be available while continuing to address urgent matters, you send a powerful message of your commitment and they feel more valued even if they will only speak to you in a much later time.

"I'm engaged, and if you share a brief overview of what you need, I’ll find a way to assist you. Alternatively, let’s schedule a meeting upon my return."

Advantages of Being Seen as an Approachable Leader:

??Being approachable makes the leader more personable and relatable. That fosters trust, respect, and positive relationships with team members. Approachable leaders create a sense of belonging and psychological safety.

??Employees get a dosage of significance. They feel heard, valued, and cared for. They become more motivated and engaged and they will stay longer.

?? Employees feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas which leads to higher levels of collaboration, communication, and creativity within the team.

??Employees feel safe to raise concerns or issues. Problems can be identified and addressed quickly before they escalate.

Epilogue

At the end of the interviews, I shared with care and respect my observations with the CHRO. Fortunately, he was eager to learn and adapt to the local culture. He agreed that he must stop to multi-task and give people his undivided attention. Moving from a "too busy to breathe" badge to an "engaged and here for you" was incorporated into our "Chief Delighting Officer" program and that impacted everyone.

And if you are a a leader who wants to explore inviting me to work with your team, I want you to know that I am super engaged but I will find the time for you. ??