“I’m too busy.” “My to-do list has a mind of its own.” As busyness has become more and more accepted as the “norm,” have you thought about how busyness impacts culture and brand?
In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, James Mayhew and I talk about how busyness reaches beyond the individual and creates business challenges far bigger than the tasks themselves.
Busyness is a virus
When you think of how often you blame busyness for something not getting done, for an error, for a missed opportunity – the list can go on and on – there really is no better word to describe it than virus.
Viruses can be evasive and sometimes difficult to treat. And so is the level of busyness in the world we live in and work in today.
When we are too busy, our values are among the first to take the hit. Communication slides. We are short-tempered with people. We miss opportunities. We stop listening. Next thing we know the values we are supposed to be following – the ones that are on the walls of the office – are meaningless.
And as busyness becomes more routine, our employees follow the lead of management – getting busier themselves. Not far behind comes the talking among about the impact of busyness. First among themselves and then to those outside of the business. Now both internal and external brands are taking a hit.
And as this continues, so does our productivity. And as productivity and staff morale drops, so does profits. Resignations increase. And it takes more money, time, and efforts to fill the open positions. The ripple effect touches every aspect of the business.
Do you see the virus at work? There is a cure for this virus. Check out our conversation. James and I share our ideas for overcoming busyness.
About James Mayhew
James Mayhew is a leadership coach, trainer, and consultant, working with leaders to activate the talent, passion, and skill within their organizations. He is passionate about helping his clients discover, define and create action in their organizational culture.
James is also the founder of The Unbusy Leader Workshop and Podcast, where he teaches leaders how to accelerate their productivity and eliminate wasteful busyness.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- James Mayhew (LinkedIn)
- www.jamesmayhew.com
- Burnout and purpose
- Burnout Costs Medical Practices Big $$$
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