GoKawiilSurvey: CEOs say customers matter most, but calendars show otherwise
Stephanie Mehta's Modern CEO newsletter examines how nine chief executives allocate their time, noting that while leaders say customers and direct reports are their top priorities, data on their actual schedules tells a different story. The newsletter draws on conversations with executives and entrepreneurs as well as reporting from Inc. and Fast Company.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The gap between stated priorities and actual time use could signal that internal meetings, administrative demands or crisis management crowd out the customer-facing and mentoring work CEOs say they value most. This kind of disconnect may offer a useful prompt for executives to audit their calendars against their stated strategic priorities.
- Nine CEOs were surveyed about how they spend their time
- Customers and direct reports were cited as top stated priorities
- Actual time-use data reportedly contradicts those stated priorities
Full Focus Planner by Michael Hyatt — This planner is built around goal-setting and time-blocking techniques that mirror the prioritization habits top CEOs describe in the article. It helps busy leaders carve out daily focus time for direct reports, strategic thinking, and customer priorities without losing sight of long-term goals.
See Full Focus Planner by Michael Hyatt on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: fastcompany.com, 2026-10-26
Published there as: “9 CEOs tell us how they manage time”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.