Why everything feels urgent (even when it isn’t)

In this episode of 'How to Lead,' discover how when everything feels urgent in organisations it can affect team performance and morale. Kate explains how urgency is often a result of poor prioritisation and offers practical strategies to distinguish real urgency from noise. Learn about the DISC profiling tool to understand how different personality types handle urgency, and get concrete tips to reset pace without sacrificing momentum.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Introduction: Why Everything Feels Urgent

00:20 Meet Your Host: Kate Waterfall Hill

00:48 Today's Topic: The Illusion of Urgency

00:56 Linda's Team Meeting: A Case Study

01:29 Understanding the Real Problem

01:50 The Impact of Urgency on Teams

02:06 The Role of Leadership in Creating Urgency

04:48 How Different Personalities Handle Urgency

06:10 The Risks of a Permanent Urgent Culture

06:57 Distinguishing Real Urgency from Noise

07:59 A Practical Model for Prioritization

09:50 Rebalancing Fast Pace with Quality

10:30 Practical Checklist for Leaders

11:27 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

12:02 Conclusion: Lead with Clarity, Care, and Curiosity

Useful links:

The Digital Academy Online Course

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