So many of us are still struggling with burnout. And while we can’t always conquer it in a single effort, sometimes just finding small ways to ease it in moments can give us the breathing space we need to move forward.
So many of us are still struggling with burnout. And while we can’t always conquer it in a single effort, sometimes just finding small ways to ease it in moments can give us the breathing space we need to move forward.
Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.
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Hey, it’s Rachel Cooke, your Modern Mentor. I’m the founder of Lead Above Noise—a firm specializing in activating workplaces – helping leaders create the conditions that unleash bigger results while engaging our teams.
So one of the conversations coming up on repeat these days is about burnout. Yes, still. Like, we all know it’s a problem. And we talk about how to fix it. And nothing seems to be getting better. At least in my universe.
My philosophy is that it’s not a big, singular problem to solve. But it’s something we attack in moments. Increments. So I’m always on the hunt for small strategies my clients can use to slowly dial back the horror and overwhelm.
Today I’d love to share a handful of questions I encourage my clients to use – with themselves and/or with their teams - when they’re staring down to-do lists that seem to get longer by the minute. Sometimes just a moment of pause and reflection can help us find clarity in where best to invest our time and energy.
Because the key to doing this well isn’t just asking “should we do this?” Because it’s hard to say no to that. Nope, the key is asking better questions that help us effectively prioritize so the most essential to-do’s rise to the top of our list. For the right reasons.
1. Will this teach us something valuable?
Our typical do-do lists are full of things…well, that we need to do. Like attend that meeting, review that spreadsheet, hit that conference, read that article, draft that email…and on and on.
But the problem with such a list is that it doesn’t offer us a way of discerning. Of asking and answering – should I actually do this? Because our time and energy aren’t in endless supply. And being great at your job isn’t about how many things you can do, but how effectively you get done the things that matter most. And often this means making choices.
This first question – will it teach us something valuable – is a great place to start.
Because it’s helping us consider whether the time spent will be just time spent, or whether it will be an investment in our future.
Take that meeting you know you’re scheduled to attend. You know what you have to contribute to that conversation. But…does it have something to contribute to you in return?
You’ll get there, you’ll share your update or your opinion. And that’s important.
But is there something you might learn in this meeting? Will there be a discussion about a new tool or a competitor you’re interested in learning about?
Will there be a conversation about a team you’re interested in collaborating with?
Spending time getting things done is important. But if we can get things done while also driving our own development, then a thing on our to-do list becomes doubly important.
If there’s nothing for you to learn…is there a way to skip that meeting?
2. Will this lead to the building of an asset?
This question is really asking whether by doing the thing you’re solving one problem one time, or if you’ll be building a solution you can use time and again.
Like, maybe you’ve got a client pitch to work on.
Rather than just building the one pitch for the one client – is there a way you can use this time to build a thoughtful template or approach that your teammates will benefit from in the future?
Or maybe there’s a conference you’re considering attending. By going, will it be just about your network and your personal learning? Or can you commit to bringing some tools or insights back to the organization that will benefit others?
Think broadly about how activities on your list have the potential to deliver value beyond this one to-do. Prioritize those over the one-offs.
3. What will we be passively saying “no” to?
Because one of the fastest paths to burnout is an overloaded plate. So a “yes” to one thing should always be a “no” or “not now” to something else.
Before you say yes to a new thing, look at it in relativity to whatever else is on your plate.
Should you work on that new onboarding plan? Or knowledge storage system? Patient satisfaction survey?
The real answer is – it depends. On what you could be doing.
If you’re in a healthcare field, I’d imagine patient satisfaction is more important than a lot of things. But maybe not more important than patient safety. So a patient satisfaction project should probably be a yes…unless it means deprioritizing a patient safety issue.
Make sense?
So look at the totality of your plate and choose not what matters – because it all does. But what matters most right now.
4. Is there a collaborative opportunity hereopportunity in here?
Sometimes the most important work isn’t defined just by the outcome – but by the experience it creates.
If working on one project has the potential to bring multiple teams or functions together – and might teach them how to share resources, how to better define handoffs, how to anticipate needs in other parts of the business to support better decision-making in the future…then it might be worth taking on. As a learning and development experience.
So consider not just what output you’ll accomplish, but also what opportunities something might create for the organization to learn and grow from it.
5. Is there a faster route to the same finish line?
“Because we’ve always done it this way.” It’s the worst, amiright?
The frequency with which I still hear this from companies blows my mind.
Why do you need 10 people to interview a new hire? Because we’ve always done it that way.
Why do you need approvals from 3 different functions before you hit go? Because we’ve always done it this way.
You get my drift. Once we have a way of doing a thing, that’s the way we do it. But what if there were a faster, more efficient and innovative way to get to the finish line?
We look at things on our to-do lists and can often estimate how long – and how much energy it will take – based on how we currently do it.
But is there a faster way you could imagine?
When the process or protocol is the thing slowing you down, challenge yourself to try something new.
Can you repurpose something so you’re not starting from zero? Can you pull the key decision-makers into one conversation together so you’re not waiting a month for their consecutive approvals? Can you run a pilot program or campaign to learn if it works before you build the whole thing out to perfection? Be creative here. And see what time and energy you might win back.
If you take nothing else away from today’s episode, then please just take this. In the face of overwhelm, we should all be questioning what we’re taking on, and how we’re getting it done. Simply adding without subtracting is a losing strategy. And I hope something on this list landed for you.
Join me next week for another great episode. Until then, visit my website at leadabovenoise.com if your workplace could use an activation boost – a talk, a workshop, a pulse check – you choose. You can follow Modern Mentor on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Find and follow me on LinkedIn. Thanks so much for listening and have a successful week.
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