The document provides advice to someone who feels overloaded and powerless at work. It suggests 10 actions they can take to change their situation: 1) Create a clear strategy and vision; 2) Implement consistent reporting and KPIs; 3) Carefully delegate responsibilities; 4) Schedule time to connect with employees; 5) Manage relationships with supervisors effectively; 6) Communicate goals and progress regularly; 7) Adopt good time management practices; 8) Provide constructive feedback to employees; 9) Limit unproductive email use; 10) Maintain a healthy work-life balance and human connections. Taking these actions would help share the workload, empower employees, and reduce stress.
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Overloaded
1. Michael de Paauw December 2008 Help me get my feet back on the ground I’m overloaded and feel powerless
2. What is your reason? I want to please everyone... No one can do it like I do it... Instructing someone else takes more time.. I do not know how to say NO! I have no one to take over for me!
3. What is your reason? I want to please everyone... No one can do it like I do it... Instructing someone else takes more time.. I do not know how to say NO! I have no one to take over for me! Can you ever? And that is a problem because... Will that time-investment pay off over time? Repeat after me: N O ! Have you tried recruitment?
4. When was your last self-assessment? Perceptual positions Do I have the necessary skills/competencies? Do I plan and prioritize consistently? Do I execute expediently? I You Him
5. Knowing the problem is a big part of the remedy Using the fish bone model to explore your issues. (Source: Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa ) People Process Policies Systems
6. Crossroads – it’s up to you I understand my situation I Accept my situation I want to change 10 powerfull actions for change
7. Actions for change - Strategy 1 Make your strategy come to live Present an attractive and comprehensive vision Outline your strategy and milestones Make the linkage explicit (to both corporate strategy as well as individual targets) Leverage power of repetition Result : Less time spend on instructing people, a framework for people to base their actions and decisions on
8. Actions for change - Reporting 2 Design, evolve and maintain a reporting pyramid Translate strategy into KPIs and design and agree a dashboard (recommend Balanced Scorecard approach) Have your team report in a consistent format and frequency (demand discipline, reward excellence) Subset up, subset down .. Result : More focus and involvement
9. Actions for change - Delegate 3 Consider carefully how and what to delegate Delegate to people who are up to the task Operate at the peek level of your abilities Challenge your staff (strech ≈grow) Delegate responsibility, consider accountability Result : Share the load and rewards, empowerment
10. Actions for change – Get out there 4 Schedule time for Walk&Talk (W&T) Reserve 1 hour / week at a minimum Safeguard that time (slot can move within the week) Balance=Min. 60% listening + Max. 40% talking Are you trusted? Result : Tap into the buzz, show yourself and show interest in your people
11. Actions for change – Managing up 5 Manage your boss Come with options/solutions rather than just problems Assumption is the Mother... Pre-emptively provide updates Focus on what is important to your boss’ boss Result : Build trust, gain credibility, get leeway
12. Actions for change - Communicate 6 Communicate, communicate, communicate! Important decision? Secure support ahead of it! Re-enforce your vision/strategy continuously Acknowledge/celebrate progress and success Always use a view of the world outside Result : People understand you (goals, views etc.)
13. Actions for change – Time Management 7 Adopt time management best practices: Demand respect for your calendar Schedule all activity (prep, travel, W&T), not only meetings Allow time in between so you can run over Start each day with planning your activities Result : Purposeful; spend time/energy on the things you should focus on Diminish haste
14. Actions for change - Feedback 8 Master the art of feedback Consider technique such as Non-Violent Communication Consider the rules of effective feedback Pro-actively sollicit feedback Balance the feedback (critisism and praise are both valid) Result : Get your message across, provide insight, improve people’s effectiveness, confirmation
15. Actions for change – e-mail overload 9 Join the fight against e-mail terror A/U/I Pick up the phone/Walk over Push back on CC and BCC Do not answer or delay response Result : Use e-mail appropriately, containment
16. Actions for change – Just human 10 We are all just human beings Develop friendships with people you admire Excel in things outside work (i.e. sports, hobbies, art) Find a coach Take your holidays and days off Result : Unwind/vent, learn from others
17. What will you change? Today (Monday morning) Near Future (The next 2 weeks) Longer Term (1 to 3 months)