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better gauge what it is going to take to finish the rest. Divide tasks and assignments into thirds and
schedule time to do them spaced over the delivery period. Let others know how you are progressing.
Always leave more time than you think it’s going to take.

4. Overwhelmed? Focus on priorities. You’re already working at top speed on a full schedule. Then
your boss asks you to take on something new—right now. You feel like you need to go in eight
different directions and don’t know where to start. Before you panic, do some planning. What’s
mission-critical? What are the three to five things that most need to get done to achieve your goals?
Effective performers typically spend about half their time on a few mission-critical priorities. Don’t get
diverted by trivia and things you like doing but aren’t tied to the bottom line. When you’ve laid out your
top priorities, identify a few critical action steps that will move you forward on each one. Notice what is
demanding immediate attention—and what is actually already on track. Put some space on your
calendar to take care of what is important but not urgent now. Then take care of the urgent. This
planning will take just a few minutes and will get you back on track. If you’re still uptight, ask for help.
And remember to manage your expectations of yourself: as good as you may be, you can’t be in two
places at once.

Want to learn more? Take a deep dive…

Driscoll, M. (2013, July 18). Research: Why companies keep getting blind-sided by risk. Harvard
Business Review Blog Network.

Giang, V. (2012, March 18). 15 Ways to stop procrastinating right now. Business Insider.
Llopis, G. (2013, April 1). The 12 things that successfully convert a great idea into a reality. Forbes.
Mind Tools. (n.d.). Taking initiative: Making things happen in the workplace. Mind Tools.

5. Problem getting work done through others? Focus on the fundamentals. Many people can
produce results themselves but struggle to make the transition to getting results from the team.
Having trouble getting your team to work with you to get the results you need? Have the resources
and the people but things just don’t run well? Maybe you do too much of the work yourself. You don’t
delegate or empower. You don’t communicate well. Struggle to motivate. Plan poorly. Find prioritizing
difficult. You may need to learn the basics of delegation and good management. To let go of doing it
all yourself. To learn to show others what you want done—and let them do it. To paint a clear picture
of what is important and why. Delegation is a complex skill. It takes effort to show others what you
want. But it pays off over time. The team will become stronger. Results will be better. Read Becoming
a Manager by Linda A. Hill. Learn from others around you who delegate well.

6. Trouble getting buy-in? Listen before you act. Focused on action? Eager to get started? Anxious
to get results? These are great qualities for getting to the bottom line. But if you’re driving results
through others, you need to slow down and include them in your thinking. People can’t follow you if
they don’t know where you are going, and why. Give them the big picture of what needs to happen.
Invite them to flesh out ideas and plans. Work with them to define plans and expectations. Help them
prioritize their own efforts. Start with a brainstorming session. “Here’s what we need to do. How can
we do this?” Collaborate on creating a plan. Or hand it off to them. Check in. Stay involved to see
how things are going. Let them know how their efforts align with the organizational goals.

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