Feels like a swarm of bees

I've come to accept that "overwhelmed" is the default state of being for most non-profit leaders.

• You have more tasks to do than you can possibly take care of.

• Focusing on any one of them risks leaving the rest undone.

• It feels like you've got a swarm of bees buzzing around your head -- each one as troubling and elusive as the next.

A big part of my coaching work is helping to restore calm in situations like this.

Most people try to solve it with force of will:

• "I'll work harder."

• "I'll try to remember all the deadlines."

• "I just have to stay on top of things."

But this isn't a question of desire or commitment.
Beating yourself up won't fix it.

Among my coaching clients, the ones who make real progress have done one thing different:

They don't focus on trying harder.
They focus on adding structure.

• Noticing their todos are scattered all over the place …
  they commit to maintaining one central list.

• Acknowledging that not all tasks are equal …
  they set priorities and tackle the high-priority items above the rest.

• Admitting that the demands will always be greater than the available time …
  they allow the lower priority items to take a back seat.

That's it.

With a little practice, the noise subsides.

They regain their sanity, and learn to focus high-quality effort on high-value tasks.
And they start to see things actually getting done.

And it. Feels. Awesome.

Keeping one list.
Setting priorities.
Letting go of the small things.

When the bees are buzzing, there is a way through.

All the best,
A.