Monday Madness
Monday Madness: TRUST What Matters
“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
— Stephen R. Covey
Think about that for a moment...
As September comes to a close and we prepare to enter the fourth quarter, the pressure can feel very real. Deadlines. Deliverables. Shorter days. Year-end expectations. Holiday responsibilities. And a world that continues to challenge our attention and energy.
But here’s a question worth sitting with:
Does your calendar reflect what you say matters most?
Trust isn’t only about believing in other people. Trust is also demonstrated in the commitments we make—and keep—to ourselves, our teams, and our priorities.
When everything feels urgent, leadership requires discernment.
Recent leadership research reminds us that priority overload can pull leaders away from strategic work, while pushing already-stretched teams harder can erode trust. (Harvard Business Review)
From a coaching perspective, this is where awareness becomes choice—and choice becomes intentional action.
Pause. Breathe. Reflect.
Before adding one more thing to this week’s calendar, ask yourself:
What deserves my attention—not simply because it is urgent, but because it truly matters?
What am I saying is a priority that my calendar says otherwise?
What could I release, delegate, renegotiate, or simply say “not now” to?
And perhaps the most important question:
What would I schedule differently this week if I trusted myself enough to protect what matters most?
For Leaders
Bring the conversation to your team:
“Looking at our priorities and our calendars, where are we aligned—and where might our actions be telling a different story?”
Then listen...
Creating space for people to reflect, identify what matters, and determine meaningful next steps supports trust, awareness, autonomy, and accountability—principles reflected in the ICF coaching competencies. (ICF)
As Q4 approaches, remember:
You don’t have to do everything to make meaningful progress. You have to become intentional about what gets your time, attention, and energy.
Your calendar isn’t just managing your time.
It’s revealing your TRUST.
You have the power to make things happen.
Trust what matters... Protect what matters... Schedule what matters...
You got this!
Coach Tavia, PCC, MEd, MAT
References
International Coaching Federation — 2025 ICF Core CompetenciesReview the ICF Core Competencies
Harvard Business Review — “Get More Done…Without Doing It All Yourself” (September 25, 2026)Read the Harvard Business Review article
Harvard Business Review — “Align Your Leadership Team When Priorities Shift” (March 2026)Read the Harvard Business Review article
McKinsey & Company — “Making Time Management the Organization’s Priority”Read the McKinsey article
#MondayMadness #Trust #Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #IntentionalLeadership #Priorities #ICFCoaching #ProfessionalCoaching #Q4
Tavia Robinson
EMPOWER COACHING & CONSULTING, LLC
732.743.5012
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