Catalyst corner

Urgency vs. Importance: The Tension That Sabotages Great Leaders

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Have you ever noticed how the most important things rarely feel urgent?

And the most urgent things? Often… not that important.

The urgent shouts.
Emails. Notifications. Back-to-back meetings.
Tasks labeled “ASAP” that demand your attention—but not your best thinking.
They create motion. But rarely meaning.

The important whispers.
Health. Vision. Culture. Deep strategy.
Relationship equity. Clear priorities. Focused thinking.
They wait quietly—until “later” becomes “never.” Or “too late.”

This is one of the hardest tensions for leaders to navigate.
Because urgent feels productive. You’re checking boxes. You’re staying busy. You’re responding quickly.
But only the important creates real change.

At Empowerment Catalyst Group, we coach leaders and teams to pause long enough to ask the question:

Is this urgent… or is it actually important?

The teams that get this right unlock leverage, not just labor.
They move from reacting to leading.
From noise… to traction.

And that’s where transformation begins.


Want help creating space for what truly matters?
Let’s connect. Strategy is only as strong as your priorities.