Overcoming the guilt of doing less

Sometimes, doing less is not only beneficial – it’s essential. Understanding and overcoming the guilt associated with pruning tasks away can dramatically boost your productivity and impact.

30-Second Version

• Leaders often feel guilty when reducing their workload, particularly if the tasks seem worthwhile in theory.
• This feeling is natural, but rooted in the misconception that caring deeply about educational outcomes means continuously adding more and more tasks.
• By consciously pruning things away, you’re choosing quality and clarity over quantity, leading to greater overall progress.
• Collaborating with colleagues can reinforce the value of doing less, helping everyone move past guilt towards focused, meaningful action.

The Full Read

When we care deeply about the educational outcomes of young people and values like equity and inclusion, we can easily fall into the trap of equating ‘caring’ with ‘doing more’. The idea of reducing or eliminating tasks – even those that seem worthwhile – can lead to feelings of guilt. This emotional barrier is natural, especially when pruning activities that appear valuable or on the surface.

However, learning to prune our commitments thoughtfully and strategically is a powerful approach to improving our effectiveness. Initially, you might experience guilt or discomfort when deciding to cut back on certain activities or commitments. This feeling is completely normal. It crops up because we have internalised the notion that busyness equals dedication and effectiveness.

Yet, in reality, our progress often stalls because we’re spread too thin. The solution is not simply to work harder but to consciously subtract, doing fewer things but doing them exceptionally well.

To ease the discomfort of pruning, try engaging colleagues in the process. Having conversations about what you’re cutting – and why – helps validate these decisions. Sharing the rationale behind your choices and hearing your team’s supportive responses will reinforce the positive impacts of cutting back.

Additionally, when you begin seeing tangible benefits, such as increased focus, reduced burnout, and clearer progress, it becomes easier to appreciate and commit to the practice of doing less but better.

Remember, the most impactful leaders aren’t those who juggle countless tasks; they’re the ones who strategically and courageously choose fewer actions that deliver greater outcomes. There’s no prize for ‘busiest’.