Some of the best CEOs I’ve ever worked with have days on which they do NOT do anything.  They just think.

They step back and ask: what’s going on in my company today?

What’s getting in our way?

What does the team need from me?

What do we need to do with our investors to change the narrative?

What’s the shift that’s going to get the board out of the current vicious cycle in which they don’t trust us, and they just keep asking for more and more detail.

The best leaders are the ones who are willing and able to step back and ask such questions.

It’s the exact opposite of what less-accomplished leaders do when things aren’t going well, which is to run around and get involved in five different projects.

When in doubt, shut your door, turn off your phone and give yourself time to think.