Getting caught up

ONE THING I see in the Every-THING workplace (that's a place where there are large, poorly coordinated, often competing and barely communicated agendas and overwhelmed, burned out employees) is how easy it is to get caught up in all the activity.

It is hard to resist. It's sort of exciting, to feel that rush. And it's like catnip to high achievers.

Then it takes you over and starts messing with your head.

I remember some bosses who were caught up and when they would come into the room it was like a tornado was hitting. The energy is the room swirled about. You stop knowing up from down.

I recall others, and despite knowing the intensity of their roles, it was always [or mostly] positive, calm and practically focused on what needed doing.

Neither way is ideal. Either we are spreading the confusion, or we are soaking it up. We are harming everyone or mostly ourselves. We need to dig a little deeper and consider our:

> BELIEFs - Do we believe it's never going to be different? This is just how work is? Or do we see it as unacceptable and an opportunity to do things differently before something gives.

> AGENCY - How well can we manage our state? When we walk into the room are we choosing to be the storm or the calm at it's centre? Can we find small ways to make a difference to the situation?

> STRUCTURE - What is working for and against us? Can we make some changes to the environment that is supporting this situation?

With the current volatility in the employment market, staff leaving causing a decrease in organisational knowledge, an increased need to support those new-to-role, people still recovering from the after effects of the pandemic and coming to terms with changes to how we work, overstretching people is dangerous and short-sighted.

Take a close look at what you believe, what you can do and what's keeping those things that are helping or hindering in place. Give yourself some time to reflect so you can catch up with what is going to stop you getting caught up in the storm, and keep your workforce healthy and your business sustainable.

#doonethingdeep #overwhelm #wellness #sustainable