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| Sharpen your emotional edge.
Welcome to this week's edition of "The EQ Edge." Today, we're talking about feeling overwhelmed. If you've ever felt like you have too much to do, too many responsibilities, or too many emotions to handle, you're not alone. But is "overwhelm" an emotion? Some people might not agree, but if it makes you feel a certain way, then it counts.
Before diving in, I'd like to invite you to share your thoughts and support me in refining the content to better address your needs as a leader. Here's the link to provide your feedback. With your support, you're not only bringing my vision to life but also pioneering a movement to reshape how emotions are perceived in the workplace. My heartfelt thank you! |
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Emotion Spotlight
OVERWHELM
"Keep it simple and focus on what matters. Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed." Confucius
Last week, I felt overwhelmed because my 4-month-old son was sick, and my husband and I were worried about him. I was also sick and had work to do. It was a lot to handle.
But now that things have calmed down, I've been thinking about overwhelm. Overwhelm stems from an imbalance in input(higher) over output. It also signals a lack of focus, from too many inputs scattering our attention. When you have a lot of things to do, it can feel like an impossible task.
So, how is this feeling helpful? It serves as a reminder to focus on one thing at a time.
We often think we're good at multitasking, but our brains aren't built for it. It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you have too many thoughts or emotions. When we're worried, frustrated, disappointed, scared, grateful, and stressed all at once, it can feel like too much. The real problem is that we're not focusing on what's important and dealing with our emotions.
"Keep it simple and focus on what matters" - that is the message overwhelm sends us.
Easier said than done, huh? |
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Understanding OVERWHELM
Definition: The sensation of being swamped, either by tasks, emotions, or thoughts, often leading to feelings of being stuck or paralyzed.
Message: "Refocus, keep it simple, and tackle one thing at a time."
Feeling: A sense of paralysis, weight on chest, feeling under pressure, where decision-making becomes challenging, and actions seem insurmountable.
OVERWHELM in Leadership
As a leader, addressing overwhelm proactively safeguard your team's well-being and the organization's success. By identifying overwhelm early on, you signal the need to recalibrate, refocus, and realign priorities. You set an example for your team, and they will feel supported and equipped to manage their tasks and emotions effectively.
Useful when:
- Identifying areas that require prioritization.
- Recognizing the need for delegation or additional resources.
- Encouraging team members to communicate their challenges openly.
- Ensuring team members don't feel stuck with projects, by offering the right support and resources
Not useful when:
- Leading to prolonged inaction or indecision.
- Preventing the reassessment of tasks or the setting of new goals.
💡Emotions, for the most part, act as motivators, urging us to action. Overwhelm, while daunting, can be channeled into productive steps if we break tasks down and tackle them one by one. However, it's crucial to discern between the need for action and moments that require introspection and healing, as with feelings akin to depression. When overwhelmed, ask yourself: "Is this emotion signaling a need for action or a moment of pause and reflection?" By recognizing the underlying message of your emotions, you can navigate them more effectively, ensuring you're not stuck and always moving forward with the right approach.
Communication tips:
Start by opening a dialogue: "I've noticed some signs of stress. How are you feeling about your current workload?"
Validate their feelings and offer support by asking, "Is there a specific project or task that's causing this feeling? What resources do you need?"
Encourage prioritization and open communication with questions like, “Which task is most urgent?” and "Keep me updated on how you're managing."
Reassure them that they're not alone and that adjustments can be made to deadlines or resources - “I trust your judgment. If you need to adjust deadlines or delegate tasks, let's discuss it.”
By fostering trust and understanding, you ensure team members feel supported and equipped to manage their tasks and emotions effectively. |
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🌟 Weekly Exercise:
This week, let's directly address overwhelm with a structured exercise:
- Grab a sheet of paper and divide it into four columns: "Thoughts," "Emotions," "Tasks", and "Actions."
- Freely jot down everything occupying your mind in the respective columns, leaving "Actions" empty for now.
- Review your entries. This visualization represents your current state of overwhelm.
- For the "Actions" column, identify actionable steps from your "Thoughts," "Emotions," and "Tasks" columns and list them.
The aim isn't to clear all tasks but to prioritize, gain clarity, and tackle essential tasks one at a time, helping you navigate overwhelm more effectively.
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As we conclude this edition of "The EQ Edge," remember that emotions, even those as daunting as overwhelm, are signposts on our journey. They guide, teach, and often, reshape our paths.
How will you navigate your next wave of overwhelm?
Thank you for reading till the end, and I can't wait to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Until next week, |
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