Compass vs. Clock: Why Efficiency is a Secondary Metric
The Efficiency Trap
In a recent piece, Scott Young revisited Stephen Covey’s classic concept of the Compass vs. the Clock. In our current "speed-at-all-costs" AI environment, this distinction has never been more vital.
Most leaders are obsessed with the Clock: How fast can we ship? How many tasks can we automate? How much "efficiency" can we squeeze out of the quarter?
But efficiency is a secondary metric. If your Compass is off by just a few degrees, the Clock only helps you reach the wrong destination faster.
The Weekly Review: Your Strategic Cadence
The most underrated tool for keeping your Compass aligned is the Weekly Review. Without it, you become a "passive pinball"—bouncing between Slack notifications, emails, and everyone else’s priorities.
As I set my 2026 goals, I’ve returned to these three principles to ensure my personal "Keel" is weighted correctly:
1. Relationships Over Schedules
In a world of automated calendars, we often treat people as "tasks." Covey suggests the opposite. If a key relationship requires your time during a scheduled block, the system should allow for that shift—provided it aligns with your mission. Relational capital is the "ballast" of a long-term career.
2. Quadrant II: The Stabilizer
Covey's four quadrants of time are:
Most leaders live in Quadrant 1 (Firefighting) or Quadrant 3 (Busy Work). The Weekly Review is designed to force you into Quadrant 2: activities that are Important but not Urgent.
This is where the "Keel" is built. If you don't schedule time for Quadrant 2, your business will eventually capsize from the weight of accumulated crises.
3. The Week as the Unit of Measure
A day is too small a lens; you can be highly productive for 24 hours while moving in the wrong direction. A month is too far away to manage effectively. The week is the perfect "reusable unit of time." It provides enough space for balance and enough frequency for course correction.
AI provides the "Clock"—it can accelerate your output to a dizzying degree. But only Strategy provides the "Compass."
Before you optimize your speed this week, take sixty minutes to check your heading. Are you moving fast, or are you moving toward your True North?
How do you handle your Weekly Review? I’d love to hear your process in the comments.
