Insider Tips from Top Business Leaders
When I set out to write The Three Bucket Leader, my goal was to provide readers with an actionable framework for making every minute matter at work. My book introduces a simple but powerful concept: imagine your time as coins you place into three distinct buckets - Engaged (when you're active but not necessarily impactful), Disengaged (when you're checked out), and Purposeful (when you're aligned with your deeper values and mission).
Throughout my research and consulting work, I discovered how the world's top business leaders inspire their teams by helping them fill the right buckets. My experiences with clients like Martin, an enthusiastic senior banking transformation leader, and David, a brilliant but disengaged analyst, have shown me how the right leadership approach can dramatically shift where people invest their minutes. These real-world transformations align perfectly with the wisdom from today's most influential leadership thinkers. Here are five leadership quotes that deeply resonated with me:
““Cohesion happens not when members of a group are smarter, but when they are lit up by clear, steady signals of safe connection.””
Why this resonates: When team members understand their mission and feel connected, they naturally move from merely Engaged to truly Purposeful. I witnessed this transformation when working with Martin, a banking transformation leader whose infectious enthusiasm for modernizing banking was actually overwhelming his team. Rather than dampening his energy, we created an "impact focus" framework that helped him channel his passion more effectively. By scaling back to fewer projects with bigger impact, Martin created those "clear, steady signals" that allowed his team to shift from disengagement to purposeful connection.
““To me, passion is everything. It’s integral. It’s that catalyst for redefining your beliefs and values.””
Why this resonates: I've seen too many talented people lose their spark and start just going through the motions - essentially filling their Disengaged bucket. This was precisely the case with David, a brilliant banking analyst who had become emotionally detached from his work—"Comfortably Numb" as Pink Floyd would say. To break through his professional numbness, we created intellectual challenges that reconnected him with his passion. Within six months, David moved from going through the motions to actively leading innovation. His transformation proves Miles' point that rediscovering passion truly can redefine one's professional purpose.
““Leaders must own everything in their world. There is no one else to blame.””
Why this resonates: A team's success starts with the leader taking responsibility for how everyone spends their minutes. Martin's transformation embodied this principle when he realized his own enthusiasm was inadvertently pushing his team into disengagement. By taking ownership of this dynamic rather than blaming his team for not keeping up, he was able to create a sustainable pace that allowed everyone to do more meaningful work. The Three Bucket approach helps leaders recognize when they're inadvertently creating conditions that push their teams into the wrong buckets.
““True authority and true leadership come from knowing who you are and not pretending to be anything else.””
Why this resonates: Authentic leaders understand their purpose and communicate it clearly. David's transformation began when he stopped pretending to be engaged and acknowledged his disengagement. This authenticity allowed us to identify what truly energized him and align his work accordingly. The Three Bucket approach helps leaders identify what truly matters to them and their team members, creating space for authentic purpose to emerge.
““Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.””
Why this resonates: Clear communication is essential for helping team members understand which bucket deserves their minutes. Martin's team was struggling precisely because expectations were ambiguous—they couldn't keep pace with his rapidly shifting priorities. By creating clearer focus and better communication around priorities, Martin helped his team move from disengagement to purposeful work. When leaders provide clarity about what matters most, they give their teams permission to invest their minutes wisely.
The Three Bucket framework isn't just theoretical—it's a practical tool I've seen transform real leaders and teams. Whether it's helping an enthusiastic leader like Martin channel his energy more effectively or reconnecting a disengaged talent like David with meaningful work, understanding where your minutes are going is the first step toward more purposeful leadership.
What leadership quote inspires you? And more importantly, which bucket are you filling with your minutes today?
Listen to my Make Minutes Matter podcast here.
Download our free leadership decision making tool here.
You can ORDER The Three Bucket Leader here.
