Leadership isn’t about being everywhere. It’s about knowing when to show up.
There was a time when I thought being CC’d on everything was good leadership.
I wanted visibility. I wanted to stay in the loop. I wanted to make sure nothing slipped through the cracks.
But here’s what really happened:
My inbox became a dumpster fire.
My focus got diluted.
And the people under me, they learned to run everything through me instead of past me.
That’s not leadership. That’s micromanagement in disguise.
So I made the shift—from “copy me” to “checkpoint me.”
What’s the difference?
When you copy me, I’m passively involved in everything. You’re playing it safe, hedging bets, and hoping I’ll catch something.
When you checkpoint me, you’re running the mission. You’re moving forward. You’re owning the process—and you’re bringing me in when it matters.
Not because you have to.
Because it adds value.
A good checkpoint is simple and sharp. It includes:
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Progress to date – what’s done, not just what’s been touched
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What’s next – your plan and timeline, not just ideas
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Risks and needs – what’s in your way, and what support you need
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Decisions pending – so I can weigh in where it counts
You checkpoint a leader the same way you’d brief a team before moving out: clear, concise, and with confidence.
Because leadership bandwidth is limited. And if you’re CC’ing me into paralysis, you’re not protecting that bandwidth—you’re burning it.
So don’t copy me. Checkpoint me.
Then get back to work.