Break the minutia cycle
Remember the initial rush of launching a new business or stepping into a high level role? It wears off fast. Pretty soon you’re whisked away into what I call minutia. In the beginning, it can feel invigorating to be busy. We feel productive and “in the zone.” Except there’s no perfect balance between just the right amount of busyness and working in your zone of genius. This is where many entrepreneurs and executives get caught in the overworked trap.
It’s not just about being overworked. Most likely, as a high level leader, you’re used to that kind of output. The toll on you is that you’ll move from overworked to overwhelmed quite rapidly…and like the metaphor of the boiling frog, all your joy and motivation will get sucked out and you won’t know why.
Here’s the dilemma:
You’re managing and executing a plethora of projects.
You feel busy, even overworked, and it’s starting to add up.
You may even become the bottleneck for decision-making.
You know this isn’t how it should be but it’s how it is right now.
You feel you’re the only one who can do the things you’re doing. You’d love to pass it off, but who is trustworthy and reliable?
You can’t hire new staff right now to take it on.
You’ll hold down the fort until things change.
Believe me, I get it. I’ve been in these situations both as an entrepreneur and executive leader. So, how do you stop the minutia cycle? It starts with you.
From 2020 - 2021, due to the effects of the pandemic, I’ve been in the position where I’ve had to take on more roles than were in my job description. Sometimes you need to scale down and take the reigns once again. With our pandemic numbers lightening up, I saw an opportunity to get out of the minutia cycle. It all started with one powerful question: What does taking on all the minutia keep me from?
This question shifted me from thinking about how much time a project would take and instead asking how much energy would this project expend and therefore sap me from putting my best creative energy where only I could lead. Once I realized this, I could look back and see where I was too tired and or becoming unmotivated. These small to mid-level projects kept me from performing at my best, which took joy and passion away from me. I was no longer operating in my zone of genius. It wasn’t just about me. Those I serve were no longer receiving the best of my zone of genius either. It was a trickle down effect that started with me.
Breaking the cycle starts with you. What does taking on all the minutia keep you from? Once you get a vision for that, you’ll figure out all the other things that need to take place.
Summary
There is a way to get out of feeling overworked and overwhelmed.
The answer to the problem begins with you.
Minutia doesn’t just take your time but robs you of your best energies.
Assess what taking all the piddly work keeps you from.
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