I am hearing the same noise from many people that represent so many different careers, industries, and jobs. And as I continue to hear more of this NOISE, I felt compelled to do some research and learn what data points, if any, are driving it. It was an interesting exercise. Many complain about TIME MANAGEMENT. Too much to do, lack of clear priorities, overwhelming workloads and expectations, inefficient processes.
Personal and systemic issues play a role in the noise too. The busier we are, the more distractions fall in front of us. You know, the daily disease of emails, instant messages and especially the cc: all. Oh, would I like a dollar for each one of those!! I want to spare you the data, but this one had to be included – 43% of our time at work is spent on the priority issues and the balance goes toward distractions & ‘low-value tasks’. Meetings seem to emerge as another major factor. Think about how much time goes into, not just the meeting, but the set-up, scheduling and the disruption to WORKFLOW.
The economy has a firm grip as well. Downsizing, layoffs, reorganizations, staffing shortages, management will provide a great big kick in the backside too. When all of this shakes out, we often find ourselves trapped with ‘too much to do’. I am old school and able to take on a lot. Despite that, sometimes too much is exactly that – TOO MUCH. It’s impossible to add and not subtract to retain and maintain quality mindset and outcome.
And then there is, “busy” vs. “effective”. Organizational culture often values being busy over results and meaningful outcome. Hey, remember, “time is money”? With exception, multitasking dilutes workflow and the ability to complete a task. Data supports that multitasking slows us down. It can take us as much as 23 minutes to refocus from distractions and interruptions. If we don’t pay attention, data says all this NOISE will lead to burnout and low morale. The engine of the workplace might be management, but the fuel will always be the support team. When I hear about stress from ‘too much to do’, I always consider this: Don’t complain about working hard because nobody works easy. Learn how to manage your time. Learn how to prioritize and learn how to manage a professional conversation.
