Small change: how to tackle overwhelm

“Suffering from overwhelm?” asked a social media post doing the rounds at Corporate Punk HQ this week. “You don’t have an overwhelm problem. You have a prioritisation problem.”

That is… questionable. The need to lead often complex organisational transformation, alongside managing the day-to-day, in a context of economic uncertainty and a rolling sense of permacrisis, have meant that even the most experienced leaders are meeting themselves coming backwards. Sometimes an overwhelm problem is, in fact, an overwhelm problem.

The solution to overwhelm is, perhaps paradoxically, to stop. Take a breath.

Then look afresh at what you’re facing — and try to get a different perspective on how best to tackle it. The volume of work may not change. But the angle of attack just might. And then — only then — you should go again.

Something to consider: what would it mean — for both you and your business — if you could take the space and time to think laterally about the problems and opportunities that your organisation is facing? To share stories, knowledge and best practice with leaders who are experiencing similar issues? To step out, just for a short time — to step up?

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