The moment September hits, many leaders treat it like the starting gun for a sprint. The summer slowdown is over, the calendar fills, and we grab the metaphorical axe and start swinging. After all, there’s only so much time left to hit those year-end goals.

But there’s a danger in moving too fast: you can end up hacking away without making much progress. You can be busy without being effective.

The best leaders take a different approach. Before they swing, they sharpen. As Abraham Lincoln is famously quoted as saying: "Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."

Sharpening takes many forms:

• Clarifying your focus: revisiting your priorities so you know exactly what matters most this fall.

• Strengthening your team: investing time in relationships so everyone’s pulling in the same direction.

• Seeking fresh perspective: leaning on trusted peers who can spot blind spots and spark new ideas.

It feels counterintuitive to slow down when the pace is picking up, but the return is undeniable. Time spent sharpening pays off in clearer thinking, better decisions, and a team that’s aligned and motivated.

Peer teams are one of the most effective sharpening tools we’ve seen. They create a space where leaders can step out of the daily grind, hear honest feedback, and leave with renewed clarity. That kind of investment doesn’t just prepare you for the next few months, but shapes the leader you’re becoming.

So as September begins, resist the urge to jump straight into the swing. Take the time to sharpen your vision, your relationships, and yourself. You’ll cut straighter, cleaner, and with far less wasted effort.

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