Here’s my “to do list.” Does it look like yours? Do you get a rush of dopamine every time you cross an item off the list? I do.

But if I allow it, accomplishing my to do list can be one of the least productive activities in my life.

This list is helping only if I am working on the items that are really important. My tendency is to cross off the easy tasks that are simple and can be accomplished quickly. I sometimes get to the end of the day and have a lot of line crossed out, but I haven’t yet tackled the most important issues.

When I work with CEOs and business leaders, we examine our productivity along these lines:

1. Are there patterns of unproductive behavior. For instance, talking about an action that needs to be taken and then never taking action.
2. Doing someone else’s job because you are not holding them accountable.’
3. Not scheduling time for yourself to think about the big picture. Day-to-day operations can consume your work day.
4. Unproductive meetings that occur regularly without an agenda or a time limit.
5. Traveling to a client or a trade show when someone at another level could make the trip and actually growing their skill sets.

Many potential Vistage members I speak with who are interested in a peer group, say they cannot join because “I don’t have time.” I usually answer by telling them, “I bet I can help you find the time.”

Others tell me they are “juggling too many balls right now. Maybe in a few months.” And I answer, “What’s going to be different in a few months? Have you ever had oodles of free time so you could join a peer group?”

You’re the leader of the company. How you spend your time is crucial to your own happiness and your company’s profits. Let’s aim for a shorter list of “to do” items that are aimed at your success.