Stop Being Busy

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Some people are just too busy for their own good.  I feel tired thinking of the people I know who are overwhelmed with work and drowning from other commitments.  Why is it so hard to work--and live--at a sustainable pace?  What is so important that we exhaust ourselves to accomplish?

I remember as a Project Manager putting in long days and nights at the office with my development team to get projects done and deployed.  In December.  The week of my birthday.  We were BUSY.  The pendulum of work rarely swung the other way though.  It took work to create downtime, and that became part of my job to do for the team.  Figuring out how to manage the work so the team could take a longer lunch or even catch an afternoon movie took effort and became a valuable skill in preserving everyone's sanity.  

Not all work is of equal importance; therefore, not all work requires the same sense of urgency.  There is wisdom in knowing when to push on to do more work and when to call it a day.  I worry that many people struggle to recognize the difference and push themselves past their limits.  They work themselves too hard.

Let's help one another stop being so busy.  Take the word out of your vocabulary when people ask how you've been.  If you see someone who is overworked, help them to slow down.  Be productive, be happy, be connected--be anything but busy.

Allison Pollard

Allison Pollard helps overwhelmed technical leaders debug their management approach. She teaches them how to manage up, support people through change, and make time for strategic work. Her education in computer science, mathematics, and English from Southern Methodist University helps her connect technical work with people management. As a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Allison focuses on improving product delivery and leadership culture. Her experience includes work in energy, retail, financial, real estate, and transportation industries. Allison regularly speaks at global conferences like Scrum Gatherings and Agile Alliance's Agile20xx. She promotes women's leadership as the program director for Women in Agile's Mentorship program. When she's not working, Allison likes to drink lattes and listen to Broadway musicals. Allison is a proud glasses wearer and co-owner of Middlegame Partners.

http://www.allisonpollard.com
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