A Day in the Life of a Senior Leader

Part I. Good Morning

Did you sleep well? I hope so, because it’s happening today. What is? It is always something at the level of senior leadership, because if the team could’ve capably handled it, it would not be an it.

Chances are, it is either unknown or quietly on your radar, which means as you sit down in your home office, drinking a cup of coffee in your favorite mug, your plans for the day, whatever they are, will need to be adapted.

The best way to prepare for this ominous unknown is to have a consistent morning ritual. Mine has seven steps—I cover them in the next chapter. What matters right now is not the steps; it’s why the ritual exists. The ritual gives you a clean calendar, scrubbed communications, and a brain chock-full of context. The consistency also arms a set of trip wires—and when one trips, you move: deliberate, focused motion.

Because it is happening today, and right now it is sitting in a quiet, innocuous message from one of your managers. She doesn’t know the problem yet, but you will, because you have the context that comes with being responsible for everything.

You’re going to need every bit of that context.

Good morning.