“I Didn’t Have Time!” — Is That Really the Issue?

“You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” — Charles Buxton

If you’ve ever led a team, you’ve probably heard it:

“I didn’t have time.”

It’s the go-to explanation for missed priorities, delayed projects, and unfinished work.

On the surface, it sounds reasonable — after all, we’re all busy. But dig deeper, and you’ll discover that “I didn’t have time” rarely means what it seems.

It’s not about the clock. It’s about choices, clarity, and control.

The Truth About Time

Every leader and manager has the same 24 hours.
Time is the most democratic resource on earth — we all get it in equal measure.

You can’t control time, but you can control what you do with it.

The question isn’t “Where did my time go?” — it’s “What am I choosing to spend it on?”

Five Root Causes Behind “I Didn’t Have Time”

Let’s unpack what’s really going on when people say they didn’t have time to complete their priorities.

1. Poor Time Management

This is the obvious one — but also the easiest to underestimate.

Procrastination, unclear priorities, and vague goals create the illusion of “too much work, too little time.”

The fix? Planning, discipline, and consistent review of how time is being spent.

2. Overloaded Schedules

We’ve normalised being “back-to-back.”

Calendars filled with meetings, inboxes flooded with emails, and task lists that never end.

In this environment, important work is constantly traded for urgent work.

It’s not a time issue — it’s a focus issue.

3. Lack of Prioritisation

When everything is a priority, nothing truly is.

Many people work incredibly hard… on the wrong things.

They’re reacting instead of leading.

As Greg McKeown says in Essentialism:

“If you don’t prioritise your life, someone else will.”

4. Fear of Failure

Sometimes “I didn’t have time” is a shield for fear.

Fear of failure, fear of looking incompetent, fear of the unknown.

By claiming to be “too busy,” people protect themselves from risk — but also from growth.

5. Unrealistic Expectations

Finally, “I didn’t have time” can be code for “The expectations were impossible.”

When leaders set unclear or unrealistic goals, their teams use time scarcity to signal burnout or resistance.

It’s not laziness — it’s survival.

When someone says they didn’t have time, it usually points to something deeper.

So What Can Leaders Do?

As an executive coach, I’ve heard this phrase hundreds of times — and often from talented, well-intentioned people.

The key isn’t blame. It’s diagnosis.

When someone says “I didn’t have time,” ask:

“What stopped you?”

Then look for patterns — not just excuses.

Here are five strategies I share with leaders and teams to reclaim control:

1. Prioritise What Truly Matters

   Identify your top three outcomes each quarter. Everything else should align or be eliminated.

2. Improve Time Awareness

   Use time logging tools or the Managing Your Time Process to reveal how your time is actually spent versus how you think it’s spent.

3. Delegate and Collaborate

   You can do anything — but not everything. Empower your team and create accountability systems that free up leadership bandwidth.

4. Remove Time Bandits

   Unnecessary meetings, distractions, multitasking — these steal hours every day. The goal is not to fill your calendar but to create space for high-impact work.

5. Communicate and Set Boundaries

   Be transparent about priorities and capacity. Clarity protects performance — and prevents burnout.

The “Managing Your Time” Process

Our Managing Your Time Process helps executives map their current state before jumping into solutions.

It involves:

• Logging daily tasks over several weeks.
• Categorising work to uncover root causes.
• Applying frameworks like Eliminate, Reduce, Increase, Create and Love & Loathe.
• Using 35 Time Bandit Busters to design a sustainable “future state.”

It’s not a one-off exercise. It’s a discipline — and when done every six months, it permanently shifts how you lead and perform.

Interestingly, about 20% of executives who start this process never bring up “lack of time” again — often without even completing the exercise. Awareness alone changes behaviour.

Final Thought — It’s Not About Time, It’s About Ownership

“I didn’t have time” feels safe. It sounds external, uncontrollable, inevitable.

But the truth is liberating: you own your time.

When you take responsibility for how you use it — instead of blaming how much you have — everything changes.

Want to help your team reclaim control of their time and priorities?

Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

TED BONEL, SCALING UP PRACTITIONER – STRATEGY & EXECUTION BUSINESS ADVISORS

Are you looking to scale your business and execute strategy with clarity and impact? I help CEOs and founders turn big ideas into real-world results, guiding small to mid-market companies through tailored strategic insights that drive growth.

My expertise lies in simplifying complexity – bridging high-level strategic frameworks with the practical realities of running a business. Unlike many consultants who focus solely on theory or execution, I specialise in both—translating strategy into actionable, transformative steps that deliver lasting results.

Want to help your team reclaim control of their time and priorities?

Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

ABOUT STRATEGY & EXECUTION

For over 20 years, Strategy & Execution has supported leaders and organisations in developing and executing winning strategies. We provide expert facilitation, executive education, and hands-on consulting to help businesses refine their strategic direction and implement it effectively.

Using proven methodologies like Scaling Up, E-Myth Mastery, Outthinker, and more, we challenge conventional thinking and equip organisations with the tools to accelerate growth. Our approach is dynamic—combining deep business experience with practical execution. We don’t just advise; we roll up our sleeves and work alongside you to make strategy happen.

If you’re preparing for a strategy development or execution challenge and are committed to creating real value, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more about our work or upcoming workshops