Your Morning Routing Says A lot About Your Leadership

When he woke up to his alarm at 6:30 am, he had exactly 50 minutes to prepare for work — mentally and physically — and be out the door by 7:20 am. His wife had the same deadline. But there was one small, often overlooked difference.

She had to get herself and two children ready, ensure everyone was fed, pack lunchboxes, and still make it out on time — all without dropping a beat. Most mornings, she managed. But on the days when things slipped — a sock gone missing, a tantrum over breakfast, or simply the exhaustion catching up — she’d be a few minutes late. And that meant everyone was running late.

That’s when chaos would strike. Tempers would flare, voices would rise, and the once mundane car ride to school and work would feel emotionally exhausting. No one won on those mornings.

Now pause and zoom out. That exact situation is probably playing out in your workplace — just with different characters and stakes. There’s a team running on tight timelines, overloaded responsibilities, and the pressure to "do it all." And on the days when even one cog in the wheel lags, the whole machine stutters.

So, what can prevent this spiral?

Two deceptively simple tools:🔹 Task Prioritization🔹 Task Delegation

In the story above, neither partner had truly embraced either of these. Both operated under the assumption that their morning routines were fixed and non-negotiable. But what if they had paused to evaluate and reassign?

🔹 Task Prioritization

This starts with knowing the difference between what’s urgent and what’s important. Using a simple tool like the Eisenhower Matrix can help you gain that clarity. When you prioritize tasks based on urgency and impact, you allow yourself — and your team — to focus energy where it’s actually needed, reducing decision fatigue and last-minute chaos.

🔹 Task Delegation

Whether you're a team lead or someone who takes pride in being a “one-man army,” refusing to delegate is a fast track to burnout. More importantly, it delays team growth and productivity. Delegating doesn’t mean dumping responsibilities — it means trusting others with ownership. In the context of our story, sharing the morning duties based on each person’s capacity could make a world of difference. At work, it could mean distributing responsibilities aligned with people’s strengths.

Key Takeaway:

Every chaotic morning or overwhelming project is an invitation to reassess how we approach our responsibilities. It’s not about doing everything — it’s about doing the right things, and trusting others to do the rest.

Whether at home or work, your time, energy, and peace of mind are too valuable to be lost to poor planning. Prioritize wisely. Delegate consciously.