What do you do if your deadlines are piling up in a Thought Leadership career?

Understand the reason for the pile up. Could be due to postponement and a lack of systematic approach Develop a culture which will make the process more methodical and systematic. Do backward scheduling .Create plans and prioritize tasks . Have a start date and an end date for each task in consonance with milestones. Identify the risk and incorporate suitable buffers Identify tasks on the critical path & prioritize resources Monitor, review and adapt

Drowning in Thought Leadership deadlines? Prioritize ruthlessly! Analyze your deadlines – some projects may have more flexibility than others. Focus on high-impact tasks that deliver the most value for your audience. Communicate openly with collaborators or clients, explaining your workload and proposing realistic adjustments. Utilize time management techniques to break down large projects into manageable chunks. Don't be afraid to delegate tasks when possible, freeing up your time for core thought leadership activities. Remember, quality over quantity – prioritize impactful work while maintaining open communication to navigate your deadline overload.

Here's one approach: 1. Take a breath, you can do this. 2. Write down every task/project randomly as they come to you. 3. Once written down go through the list & mark all the tasks that have a due date within a week A. 4. B tasks due 2 weeks. C 3 weeks. D 4 E5. 5. For each category rank the tasks according to consequences A1 A2 A3 etc. 6. Now you have a sorted list by category, date, priority. 7. If possible delegate any task that can be, or hire help. 8. If you can't get everything done go through the A tasks and ask the client's "What is the possibility of extending the due date, if necessary?". Some will say "No problem", some will need delivery but any extension gives you some room. Need help? 818 242-8005.

Very few "thought leaders" do all of the work themselves! They have teams, they have consultants, they have technology and resources. While some higher level tasks may need to be handled directly, there are often a number of things that can be taught to others on the team. We cannot hold onto the dream that we'll do it all ourselves. It rarely works.

Whilst the daily hustle of getting through tasks at work, we tend to get overwhelmed with deadlines. Processes are the saviours. Ideating a workable process is the easiest part of the job but the real journey begins at executing and streamlining your processes. I am used to creating a rough mind map of all the outcomes and then reverse engineer the best possible way. Keep in mind 80 - 20 rule where 80% of the tasks are inter dependent where you can build cyclic process and 20% are independent. This way most of it streamlined. Now, try measuring efficacy and repeat the process. Once you have achieved maximum efficacy, I would recommend you create a playbook that will help you evade these overwhelming situations.

Managing time effectively is essential to maintain productivity and focus! Start by prioritizing tasks based on importance and urgency, utilizing tools like Eisenhower's Urgent/Important principle. Additionally, establish a daily schedule that includes dedicated blocks of time for focused work, strategic planning, and personal wellness. For me, its also important to regularly review and adjust the schedule as needed to ensure alignment with overarching goals.

Start by identifying stress triggers and think about how to manage them effectively! This could involve practicing mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing. Additionally, prioritize self-care activities like exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating to support physical and mental resilience. I've started doing this recently by getting back into martial arts. It's also important to have a supportive network of industry friends that can offer guidance and perspective.

Remember that it's okay to ask for help or seek support from colleagues and team members during demanding periods! This time will undoubtedly make you stronger.