Many managers find that their time and attention gets pulled in several directions and away from the groups that they manage — and the higher you go in an organization, the more this happens. To guard against losing touch, they carefully schedule their time. For example, say that you're going to be involved in some high-level meetings most of the next three days and you have a staff member who needs some focused attention. Schedule a one-on-one meeting, say for 30 minutes, with that staff member before you get involved in the other activities. In this way, you can maximize her time and yours. Without structuring your time, you would probably play hit-and-run with her over the three days, leaving her frustrated and feeling that she is low on your priority list.

Remember, although some matters may not be urgent, they may still be important. A coaching management style recognizes this fact and the need to sometimes make time for what's important.