The ability to get work done when it suddenly piles on and there is an abundance of work requiring completion and little time. It feels frantic, rushed, and out of control. Some organizations wear this as a badge of honor and a rite of passage for employees. For new ones, it is an initiation, and for older ones, it is pride. Welcome to the madness: Overtime, weekends, and late nights.
There may be a surge of adrenaline with the challenge and excitement at times. However, this wears thin relatively fast and is not sustainable. Something or someone will fail in time. So, the risk is less than stellar outcomes and a worn-down workforce.
If you hold a glass of water in your hand for a few minutes, it is not an issue. However, if you hold onto that glass for a few hours or the day, it becomes heavy and difficult to maintain—the fatigue sets in, mental and physical. The same principle applies to frenzied environments.
Chaos will bring chaotic results. Employee dissatisfaction, turnover, and likely inordinate overtime wages. With thoughtful planning and deliberate management of flow, one can avoid this. Yes, even the customer with last-minute demands will change their ways if we are insistent on creating sustainable and stable environments.
Choose. Do you want the frenetic madness and thrill of chaos, or do you want to thrive since the two do not coexist?
