-Karthik Gurumurthy
Let me tell you about Sarah, a project manager I met who had that thousand-yard stare you only get after too many late nights and impossible deadlines. "Well," she sighed, dropping into her chair, "this is project number 101. Just rinse and repeat." Her voice had that mix of exhaustion and cynicism that comes from seeing too many "urgent" initiatives come and go.
You see, transformation in business is like being on a never-ending treadmill - the pace might change, but it never really stops. And just like any marathon runner, your team can hit that wall where everything feels impossible and their energy tanks to zero.
But here's the thing - there are ways to keep your team from burning out. Think of it like maintaining a race car. You wouldn't run it at full throttle without pit stops, right?
Here's what I've learned works:
First, imagine your team's workload like a juggler trying to keep too many balls in the air. Sometimes you need to step in and say, "Hey, maybe we don't need to juggle all these at once."
Then there's the ping-pong effect - you know, when work bounces back and forth between teams like an endless game? That's usually a sign you need to simplify your processes.
Don't forget about your star players - the ones who always deliver. A simple "Hey, that presentation you did? Knocked it out of the park!" can work wonders. Sometimes a high-five is all it takes to keep someone's spirits up.
And speaking of star players - make sure you're not always calling on the same person to be your superhero. Even Superman needs a break sometimes. Train up some sidekicks who can share the load.
The funny thing is, just when you think you've got everything running smoothly, something new comes along - maybe it's a shiny new product launch, or perhaps two departments are merging. But that's actually good news! It means your business is alive and kicking, always evolving.
Think of it like gardening - you're never really "done." There's always something new growing, something that needs pruning, or something that needs a little extra care. And that's exactly how it should be!