What is your overwhelm Acumen?

It's Friday so let's have a little fun. We know living in a perpetual state of overwhelm causes stress that affects our overall health and well-being and that being overwhelmed at work affects the bottom line (I've identified at least 10 ways). But, what else do you know? Take this short quiz to check your insights
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Who is most overwhelmed?
A. You're in a fast-paced environment where colleagues have been laid off and you have to pick up the slack.
B. You're a business owner working 24/7 and you can't catch up.
C. You're a working mom with kids in school involved in sports and other activities.
D. All of the above.

2. Is overwhelm solely the result of the amount of work you have to do?

A. Yes
B. No

3. The majority of folks in service professions spend what percentage of their work week in overwhelm?

A. 25 percent
B. 50 percent
C. 75 percent
D. 100 percent

4. What percentage of employees who report being overworked say they make a lot of mistakes at work?

A. 10 percent
B. 20 percent
C. 50 percent

5. The best way to conquer overwhelm at work is to:

A. Ignore it and it will go away
B. Recognize when you're in it
C. Call up a friend and tell them how overwhelmed you are.

How did you do? The answers are: 1.D.; 2.B; 3.C.; 4.B.; 5.B.

Our survey shows the majority of folks know being overwhelmed is not solely because of the amount of work you have to do. It's how you manage what you have on your plate. The best way to conquer overwhelm at work is to recognize when you're in it so you can devise a strategy that works for you, maybe with the help of a coach or other professional. Making one shift in the way you handle something that brings relief can often have a huge impact, not only at work but in other areas of your life.

What questions would you like answered about being overwhelmed at work? Send me your questions/comments.

Linda Hardenstein, MPA, PCC helps busy people take work off their plates, get out of overwhelm and into greater productivity, profitability and peace of mind. She coaches people like you who are ready to achieve breakthroughs and find fulfillment in their careers.

Underwear Fires and Systems Solutions

I read with interest proposed solutions to the systems breakdowns that resulted in the Christmas Day security breach when a Nigerian man in a database of possible terrorists flew into Detroit allegedly with concealed explosives and the intent to blow up a Delta airliner. I heard President Obama on national news last night say there was a failure to connect the dots and use the information they had. As someone who has worked in and studied bureaucracies I know system coordination, integration and streamlining isn't easy. And having designed systems I know doing the upfront, nitty-gritty analysis to identify and solve the real problem isn't always fun.

When a problem occurs in any business it's natural to want a quick fix. Failure makes us all ill-at-ease and insecure and we don't like to feel that way. But a knee-jerk reaction may not be the best solution.

How many of us have worked in organizations where a co-worker violated a policy, like a Work at Home program, and the solution was to cancel the whole thing (maybe to the detriment of the organization because other workers' productivity was skyrocketing)? Or invoices buried on an accountant's desk impacted the company's bottom line so everyone had to adhere to a new processing procedure (one that messed things up for the majority of accountants who already had streamlined procedures in place).

Before full body scans at airports become a reality because someone on a plane tried to light their underwear on fire I hope the powers at be continue the heavy duty analysis to identify underlying problems so real solutions are implemented. And, unintended consequences are considered and kept at a minimum.

The first of the year is a good time to review your procedures to tweak and adjust your systems to find those out-of-the-box business streamlining solutions that make achievement of your goals simpler and your life much easier. See my Business Streamlining offer.

Have a comment or question about systems, breakdowns, improvements or a funny story about a crazy solution? I'd love to hear from you.

Linda Hardenstein, MPA, PCC gets busy people out of overwhelm and into greater productivity, profitability and balance. She designs innovative systems and solutions for individuals who are ready to achieve breakthroughs and find fulfillment in their careers, retirement and life.