FROM MARK

A friend asked me recently what work tech we tend to use, and my (non-sarcastic) answer was, “all of them,” and it’s true. We work how our clients work. We use the tech that they do. And as a result, we are in a mode of constant context switching, repeatedly jumping tools, using every MFA app available, and ensuring that every organization we have the good fortune of supporting feels like we are an embedded part of their team.

A friend asked me recently what work tech we tend to use, and my (non-sarcastic) answer was, “all of them,” and it’s true. We work how our clients work. We use the tech that they do. And as a result, we are in a mode of constant context switching, repeatedly jumping tools, using every MFA app available, and ensuring that every organization we have the good fortune of supporting feels like we are an embedded part of their team.

But within each singular organization, context switching is dominating and drowning most employees. The Pavlovian ping and ding, the red dots’ numbers growing as if to mock our lack of progress and responsiveness, and an unspoken expectation that regardless of where you are, what meeting you’re in, or who you are with, immediacy is required. And when we do respond, we tend to apologize for the delay while we multitask on three other channels. It’s short attention span theater without the popcorn and overpriced drink.

Now add in an enterprise transformation for good measure, as already drowning resources are expected to carry this as their “stretch goal.” The endless allocation of capacity and capability is what keeps us up at night, literally.

We recently mentioned expanding the IA team to try and help. Nobody puts “kept fourteen workstreams from colliding” on a highlight reel, but it’s the connective tissue that turns a good plan into a real outcome, and right now our clients need more of it than ever before. Demand typically outpaces the capacity to follow through, and follow-through is what keeps the engine running in this era of work chaos.

Please take a moment to read about why our newest IAers – Jackie and JJ – joined our team, written in their own words. Our tagline is Humanizing Transformation. Energizing People. for a reason, and I hope you learn a little bit more about these amazing new joiners.

And while we’re at it, don’t look at those two em dashes and say, “AI wrote this!”  We can’t let our robotic overlords ruin a useful grammatical tool.

Now let’s return to our regularly scheduled context switching, and perhaps snooze notifications to give ourselves a short reprieve. If there’s one thing I’ve learned since dinosaurs roamed the Earth, it’s that there’s always more waiting for us than we can care for. Oh… and that it’s hard to wave to a friend with T-Rex arms.

That’s two things. You’re welcome.