Urgent!
Just seeing the word “urgent” can trigger a gut-tightening in many of us. Urgency commands our attention and leads us to instantly shift our focus. It is a powerful motivator. Ignoring what really is urgent can cost us bigtime, both personally and professionally.
On the other hand, much of what is called urgent isn’t. It’s simply hype designed to make us fearful of missing out (FOMO), or a lack of clear priorities. False urgency feeds a culture of fear and distrust.
Amare businesses do not artificially use urgency to manipulate employees and customers; they reserve claims of urgency for situations that require it. They have internalized the teachings of the classic story, “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” For if everything is urgent, then nothing is.
Consider “urgency” in your life:
- How does your organization use urgency?
- How do you personally vet proclamations of urgency?
- What is your experience of the relationship between urgency and fear?
Managing urgency in your work and life is a key part of knowing yourself and how you operate. Use these 5 Amare strategies to help.
5 Amare Ways to Manage Urgency in Business
1. Look for patterns. Calmly assess the last five to ten situations you were in that were called “urgent.” Notice how many really required prompt action, who and what was involved, if procrastination was at play, etc. Did you find any commonalities?
2. In the moment, take a moment. Unless the urgent situation demands instant action (and some do), take a few seconds to get quiet and evaluate if the urgency is real and worthy of your energy at this moment. If it is, great. If it’s not, find a way to re-prioritize it.
3. TO DOs – urgent vs. important. Make a 2 x 2 grid, with urgent/not urgent as column labels and important/not important as row labels. Now organize your “to do” list and repetitive tasks like checking email into the four cells. Be especially cognizant of giving too much energy to what is urgent (time-sensitive) but not important (of little value).
4. Use specific language. Saying “this needs to be completed by next Wednesday at noon” conveys a feeling of urgency much better than “we need this done by the middle of next week.” It also promotes greater accountability.
5. Tie to shared values. As a leader, prioritize time-sensitive things as urgent if they are aligned with your stated purpose and values. That way your people can make sense of what actually is urgent to your organization.
Good leaders know themselves and act in alignment with their greatest good. If this feels urgent and important to you, contact me to explore executive coaching infused with Amare!
Today’s Amare Wave Wednesday Quote
“A life of fulfillment is one in which we put urgency in its place and remember that the ultimate target is to spend our lives doing the things we believe are most important to us.”
―Tony Robbins
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To learn more about the Amare Way movement, the book The Amare Wave, or my Amare executive coaching services, visit www.MosheEngelberg.com.
Modified from original publication on MosheEngelberg.com
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