Wish I had a dollar for every time a colleague or someone I know refers to, “I am overworked, and I am drowning”. It has a terrible connotation to it. Metaphorically or literally, DROWNING cannot be a good thing. Nevertheless, we are all too familiar with this expression and what it really means is someone is in DISTRESS and needs HELP.
Where is the rescue plan? Who is managing that? And are you communicating effectively to someone that you really need help? It makes no sense to wait until the 11th hour when the team recognizes that you are doing the best you can to keep your head above water. If it’s not seen or mentioned, you will go down.
There is serious potential for failure if this is in fact where you are and not addressed. DANGER looms and what you need to do is message that you need guidance, assistance and an opportunity to step back, reassess and grab the lifesaver. You can only tread water for so long. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Learn to communicate with your leadership – They can and will help you. Recognizing the need for help is something that leadership should do. They are the ones responsible for tossing the ‘lifeline’ when you are drowning. That said, they sometimes just miss it and that’s where you must step up and convey to them that HELP is necessary.
Learn how to manage your schedule and your time so when you begin to feel like you might go down, give a shout and look for the LIFEGUARD.
