Feeling a bit scattered and overwhelmed at work recently, I created a mind map of my activities. The map showed what I suspected: I take wide aim at too many projects, making it difficult to go deep into any of them.
As I work on fixing this, I find that eliminating activities is not the only solution available. Instead, I can re-focus each activity towards a single goal. Doing so immediately suggests different ways to approach and execute the activities. I now feel that more of what I do is making a greater impact towards a worthy goal.
Perhaps there is a lesson here for the business leader who feels that running her business leaves not time to address culture. She can look at everything she does and ask herself: “If each activity’s goal was to improve the culture, what would it look like? What changes would I have to make?”
Then, suddenly, there is new meaning to the work.
Or, I should say, the work is now more meaningful.
The Ethical Leader 
How did you address the âoverwhelmedâ feeling on your E&C projects? How did you zero in?
Loved this post!
Thanks, AP
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Ana-Paola (AP) Capaldo
Director, Ethics & Compliance Officer
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Good to hear from you AP!
It’s still a work in progress. However, what I have done is use the mind map tool to funnel 80% of my activities through a single node, specifically ECO support. This means that I re-frame everything I do by asking myself if this is adding value to the 500 ECOs that I support. In addition, and perhaps even more importantly, I ask myself if this activity is having a positive impact on the entire organization’s culture. So, without necessarily reducing how much I’m doing, I find energy in the dual-purpose of each activity.
Being overwhelmed, for me, if often just a result of not thinking clearly about what I’m doing.
Hope this helps,
Yan
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