Father's Delight

At present I find myself rapidly approaching that overload situation I posted about just last month. I am currently managing several complex projects simultaneously and at times I almost lose track of what day it is. Been there?

This is not such a bad situation for someone who needs challenges, plenty of mental stimulation and who enjoys the content, processes and overall environment of the projects. But sometimes it can all get just a bit too much.

At that stage several possibilities emerge of course. With luck, these possibilities remain entirely elective. Well, maybe it is more good management than luck, but the point is that if decision making remains in control, one can activate various "relief valves" to, in the imortal words of John Farnham, "let the pressure down".

Of course, if wisdom does not prevail, eventually something out of control will supervene. All too often this is some form of health breakdown. Not an option for me, thanks very much!

So one might re-evaluate and reassign priorities, inventing a new time schedule for work performance and/or target completion dates. This is a pretty smart first step. Unfortunately it is one I find difficult to implement. Some can, some can't. I have some reluctance.

Of course, one could simply ditch one or more projects or downgrade them into smaller and less demanding exercises. Again, not always suitable and not an approach I favour.

Now there are other clever management strategies, but the best by far all involve some version of getting help. Simple isn't it; just delegate. Find staff. Whatever, just don't be left carrying the whole load alone.

Well, as ideal as the textbooks make such a strategy seem, it can actually involve adding a further project, namely, finding/hiring staff. Not a small undertaking at best and incredibly difficult when dealing with highly specialised projects.

So, is it too late? Is all lost?

No, not at all.

Fortunately my son has offered to help. Whew! I'm saved. And it's not just a 'lifeline offer' that gives me a lighter feeling for now but never actually comes to anything. He made the offer and immediately took up the strain. He was into it. And he works hard and fast. I can feel the burden lifting even as I type.

Now I'm feeling just great. Yes, I am now making much better progress and feeling better about that. And yes, I am relieved to have some pressure taken off. But it goes way, way beyond that. It is the utter delight that a father feels to be able to work with his son. That is priceless.