Power tip: "Reframing time & accountability", Tonya Petrozzi
“Time is not something that happens to us. We have a finite amount of time, and we get to choose how we spend it.”
Transcript
Ryan Castle: You’re listening to Level 10 Leaders Power Tips, and I’m your host, Ryan Castle. Today’s tip comes from Tonya Petrozzi, the EOS Implementer from Petrozzi Coaching and Consulting. Tonya’s power tip is about reframing time and accountability. Let’s dive in.
Tonya Petrozzi: Hi, I’m Tonya Petrozzi, a professional EOS Implementer and Certified Kolbe Consultant. Today I want to share a mindset shift that can completely transform accountability inside leadership teams. It starts with a simple truth: time is not something that happens to us. We each have a finite amount of time, and we get to choose how we spend it.
When I work with leadership teams, one of the first patterns I notice is how often people talk about time as if it’s in control. “I didn’t get to that rock.” “I was too busy.” “I couldn’t follow through.” “I didn’t have enough time.” “I wanted to, but things came up.” We’ve all said it. It’s human.
But here’s the problem: that language removes your power. And accountability cannot exist where power has been surrendered. So I give teams a reframing tool. It’s simple, a little uncomfortable, but wildly effective.
Instead of saying, “I didn’t have time,” replace it with: “I chose to do X instead of Y.” That’s it. “I chose to answer client fires instead of completing my rock.” “I chose to push off that people analyzer conversation.” “I chose to prioritize internal work over sales activity.” “I chose to…” — fill in the blank.
The first time a team tries this, it gets really quiet because now we’re not talking about being busy — we’re talking about our choices. And the truth is, sometimes it was the right choice. Sometimes the crisis was real. Priorities shifted. Sometimes life happens.
But the moment you frame it as a choice, something powerful happens: you get honest, you get clear, and you get back in control. Accountability becomes a conversation about priorities, not excuses.
This reframing also removes guilt and judgment. Because if you chose something else, now we can ask better questions: Was it the right choice? Do we have the right person in the right seat? Is the vision clear enough? Are we addressing symptoms instead of root causes? What needs to change so this choice doesn’t keep happening? That’s where real traction comes from.
So here’s my challenge for you this week: notice your language around time. And when you hear yourself say, “I didn’t have time,” stop and reframe it. Instead say, “I chose to…”
It will feel awkward at first, but it will create clarity faster than almost anything else I teach. Because empowered leaders don’t wait for time, they take responsibility for how they spend it. And that shift is where accountability truly begins.
Ryan Castle: Thanks, Tonya. To connect with Tonya, go to level10.us/20. While you’re there, be sure to check out more Power Tips. And thanks for listening.
