Warrior LDRSHIP Podcast – The Lies That Kill Your Time (And How to Shut Them Down)

The Lies That Kill Your Time (And How to Shut Them Down)

Time is one of the most valuable resources we have as leaders—but it’s also one of the easiest to lose. Most people think the biggest threats to their time are their boss, their phone, or their endless to-do list. But the truth is far deeper: your own mind is lying to you.

In this episode of the Warrior LDRSHIP Podcast, we dive into the hidden traps leaders fall into that steal their focus, sabotage their productivity, and leave them burned out. If you’ve ever wondered why you end the day exhausted with little progress to show for it, this conversation will help you recognize the lies and build the resilience to overcome them.

The Silent Lies That Steal Your Time

1. “I’ll Just Check This Real Quick…”

This is the classic productivity killer. You sit down to work on a major project, but instead of diving in, you “just check” your email or messages. One click turns into 20 minutes, and before you know it, the day has slipped away.

Leaders must learn to set boundaries with distractions. That means using tools like “Do Not Disturb,” batching emails, or blocking out calendar time for focused work. Protecting your attention is a core leadership skill.

2. The Urgency Trap

Not everything is urgent. But when you treat it that way, you end up exhausted and ineffective. Leaders fall into the trap of reacting to every notification, request, or interruption as if it’s mission-critical.

The fix? Prioritization. Use proven frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix (urgent vs. important) or Lean Six Sigma tools to identify what truly moves the mission forward. Leadership development isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things at the right time.

3. People-Pleasing = Time Poverty

This is one of the hardest lies to face. Many leaders, especially new managers, fall into the trap of saying “yes” to everything because they don’t want to upset anyone. But trying to please everyone only leads to stress, resentment, and poor results.

True servant leadership isn’t about making everyone happy. It’s about making decisions that serve the mission, the vision, and the growth of the team. Saying “no” without guilt—and meaning it—is one of the most empowering time management skills you can develop.

4. Ownership + Resilience

Time management isn’t just about calendars and checklists. It’s about ownership. Leaders who take full responsibility for their sphere of influence stop making excuses and start creating solutions.

Resilience is built the same way. By leaning into the hard things—whether it’s having a crucial conversation, delegating authority, or addressing a toxic behavior—you become stronger. The next challenge feels less overwhelming because you’ve trained yourself to adapt and push forward.

Why This Matters for Leaders

The Warrior Ethos teaches us to live by values like resilience, discipline, and selfless service. Leadership coaching and therapy both show that growth comes from facing the hard truths. And one of the hardest truths is this:

👉 Your mind will lie to you to keep you comfortable.

👉 Leadership requires leaning into discomfort.

The leaders who rise above are the ones who can spot these lies, shut them down, and focus on what truly matters.

Take Action Today

If you want to reclaim your time and strengthen your leadership, here are three steps you can take right now:

Audit your distractions – Identify the top 3 things that steal your focus daily and put systems in place to control them.

Set boundaries – Create office hours, use the leadership stoplight framework, and teach your team how to problem-solve without always coming to you.

Say “no” with confidence – Protect your priorities by practicing respectful but firm ways of declining requests.

Remember: Leadership is ownership. When you take control of your time, you set the standard for your team.

Resources and Links

🎧 Listen to this episode:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fvbmSWQM7tiO7mnKwHV9M

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victoryleadershipcoaching/featured

📚 Read the book that started it all:

Speak Up. Show Up. Lead: A Veteran’s Story of Grit, Growth, and Leadership from the Ground Up

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2C8K7D2

💻 Learn more about leadership coaching:

Visit Victory Leadership Coaching: https://victoryleadershipcoaching.com

Final Thought

Time is your most valuable resource. Stop letting lies, distractions, and people-pleasing dictate your leadership. Take ownership, build resilience, and lead with clarity. Because when you control your time, you control your growth—and your team’s future.