Downsides of constant email responsiveness

When Always-On  Becomes Always-Wrong "The most responsive leader I know just made their worst strategic decision." It stopped me in my tracks. Here's what I'm seeing in high-performing organisations: ↦ The faster we respond, the slower we think ↦ The more we're available, the less we're present ↦ The busier we appear, the less we achieve Let me share what's actually happening: 🔹 Quick responses are replacing deep thinking Leaders pride themselves on rapid replies, but miss the strategic insights that come from focused reflection. 🔹 'Always available' creates constant interruption A leader I work with tracked their day: 127 notifications. Each breaking their flow, each requiring mental energy to refocus. 🔹 Digital presence is confused with actual impact Teams are mistaking activity for achievement, responsiveness for results. Here's what I'm seeing work: 1. Protected Thinking Time Block 2-hour deep work sessions. Treat them like critical meetings - because they are. 2. Response Expectations Set clear team guidelines: "Urgent needs a call. Everything else can wait 4 hours." 3. Digital Sunset The best leaders I know have strict cut-off times. They're trading evening emails for morning insights. 🧠 A few questions to sit with: ↦ Are we confusing accessibility with effectiveness? ↦ What decisions need more space than we're giving them? ↦ How might our 'always-on' culture be limiting our potential? ❓ What boundary have you set that's made the biggest difference? ♻️ Share this post if you know a leader who needs to hear this message - sometimes the best strategic tool is simply creating space to think. Follow Richard Goold for more insights on leadership, high-growth firms, and building cultures that last.

The pressure to instantly respond. This summer, our cabin was on the market. We’d listed it in April, but as the weeks went on and we spent more time there, I realized deep down I didn’t want to sell. Going through the realtor and sales process didn’t help… and was eye-opening. Each request for a showing or an offer came with tight deadlines and expectations to respond quickly. It was also kinda stressful with the logistics of showing the property while living in it with kids, a dog, and trying to keep the place clean! Some of that pressure I was putting on myself. The realtor was just doing his job, after all. But one offer we received a couple of weeks ago landed in our inbox on a Saturday morning at 9 am... with a deadline of noon that same day! Three hours to make a big decision. Way too short of a deadline. And it didn’t take into account everyday life. What if we’d slept in that morning? Or didn’t check our phones first thing? Or had a family event and were being present with that? It was an easy no because of the need to quickly reply. I decided a few years ago that I was done with the pressure and expectation of quick responses. Not responding instantly—or within three hours or even the same day—is not a reflection of your value or whether you care. Of course, deadlines and timely responses matter. It's important to meet our commitments and shows respect to others. But when we expect instant replies from ourselves or others, we pile on unnecessary pressure and often make unwise decisions. Think about it: how many times have you said yes too quickly, only to regret it later? Or fired off a reply just to “clear it,” instead of giving it the thoughtful attention it deserved? Or felt pulled out of the present moment with your kids because you thought you had to respond to a work email? Or judged someone else for not replying as quickly as you expect? These small moments of pressure and distraction chip away at your sense of balance, increase stress, and don’t respect what someone's day might look like. Responsiveness is valuable. But it doesn’t have to mean instant. Be bold. Where can you be more mindful about letting go of the expectation of such quick replies from yourself or others? You’ll make better decisions, create space for everyday life, and ease some of that pressure. P.S. We ended up taking our cabin off the market and enjoying the last week of summer here before back-to-school for the kids, work, and city life ramps up! #balancedleaders

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking responsiveness = good service. Answer every email instantly. Take every call. Be permanently “on.” But here’s the problem: if you’re always available to everyone else, you’re never available to yourself. And the real work - the thinking, the planning, the building - suffers. This week I had to block time and shut the door. No calls. No emails. Just focus. And the result? Progress that endless “availability” would never have delivered. Being there for people matters. But not at the cost of the work only you can do.

Had a chance to meet up with one of my ex boss over a drink, recently. He introduced me to two of very senior industry veterans by saying- He’s an exceptional leader, he was always available to his team. I started thinking- Being "always available" in the corporate world is a double-edged sword. Typical of me- thought through the conversation and penned following lines, which are being reproduced below: Advantages: - Responsiveness:Being readily accessible can demonstrate commitment and reliability, especially in critical situations. It can help build trust with colleagues and clients. - Visibility:Consistent availability can lead to greater visibility within the organization, potentially opening up opportunities for advancement. Disadvantages: - Burnout:Constant availability can lead to stress, burnout, and decreased productivity over time. It can also blur the boundaries between work and personal life. - Dependence:Teams or colleagues might become overly reliant on you, which can stifle their problem-solving abilities and hinder their growth. - Perceived Lack of Prioritization:If you’re always available, it might suggest that you don't have a clear sense of priorities or that you're not delegating effectively. Overall, while being available is important, it’s crucial to set boundaries and prioritize work-life balance. This not only sustains long-term productivity but also sets an example of healthy work habits for others.