This was also published as a Twitter thread here

Managing Focus and Time as You Grow Beyond the IC Role

Many people struggle to manage their focus and time as they move into leadership roles beyond being an individual contributor (IC). I’ve learned some of this the hard way—and by picking up tips from the best. Here are four key strategies that have worked for me: the maker vs. manager schedule, the LNO framework, aligning with your biological clock, and prioritizing focus activities. Let’s unpack them.

1. Makers vs. Manager Schedule

The focus required for some activities is different from what’s needed for managing. I usually block half a day for deep, distraction-free focus work—typically the first half of my day works best for me. The second half is packed with collaboration and meetings.

One critical thing is to segregate meetings to create continuous chunks of free time. This doesn’t happen by accident—you have to actively guard those chunks. Organizations that promote no-meeting days or hours are excellent, but if yours doesn’t, you need to take charge and protect your focus time. Here’s a great resource to dive deeper.

2. LNO Framework

The LNO framework — Leverage, Neutral, Overhead—is mind-blowing when you really lean into it. Time is limited, and we need to maximize it for high-impact (Leverage) tasks while doing an okay job on Neutral or Overhead tasks. This shift in how I looked at every task was fundamental.

This framework, created by Shreyas Doshi, is a goldmine for techniques to manage your time effectively. It helps you prioritize what truly moves the needle and delegate or minimize everything else.

3. Biological Clock

Everyone has their peak performance times during the day based on your biological clock. As much as possible, design your day so that your highest-leverage activities happen during your best energy zones. For me, that’s often the morning, but it’s different for everyone.

Don’t forget the basicsm which we underindex on: food, sleep, water & your environment all affect your productivity. Optimize these for yourself to be at your best. Understanding and aligning with your natural rhythms can transform how you work.

4. Focus Activities

Keep at least an hour—or more—of blocked time every day for activities that require intense focus. Ideally, schedule this at the start of your day, before your mind gets cluttered with other tasks. This dedicated time ensures you can tackle your most important work without interruptions.

Connecting the Dots

These strategies tie together to help you stay productive and effective as a leader. For related advice on staying technical while growing in your career, check out my earlier thread here

The Bottom Line

Managing focus and time as you grow beyond the IC role isn’t easy, but with the right systems—the maker vs. manager schedule, LNO framework, biological clock alignment, and focus blocks—you can thrive. I’ve learned these lessons the hard way, but they’ve been game-changers for me. Try them out and see what works for you.