Why leaders who go solo during EOFY pressure are setting themselves up to fail
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The end of financial year is fast approaching and it’s a stressful time for many, with tight deadlines, increased reporting pressures, and changing priorities all packed into a demanding few weeks.
As the pressure mounts, leaders may be tempted to automatically default to “control, collapse, or retreat” mode. But according to executive coach Dr Kim Vella, collaborating with others (even when it’s the last thing you want to do) can be the difference between staying stuck and finding a real path forward.
“It’s completely natural to enter defence or shutdown mode when everything becomes too overwhelming. A leader might be trying to navigate complex challenges and competing demands, and will gravitate towards any mindset that appears to offer the simplest solution. These are mindsets like, ‘It’s faster if I do it’ or ‘I need to micromanage so nothing slips through the cracks’, or ‘If I hide in my office, everyone will leave me alone’.
“The trouble is that most leaders need to navigate complex challenges and balance competing demands all the time! It doesn’t end on June 30. So sooner or later, these mindsets will have a visible effect on performance and may even lead to burnout. They’re not sustainable.”
Kim says collaborating with others under pressure is about more than just sharing the load. Through collaboration, albeit in ways they may initially perceive as uncomfortable, leaders can make real progress – especially when the stakes are high and there’s no clear roadmap.
“As with many leadership challenges, the problem is that people feel stuck, isolated or overwhelmed in this space. It’s even more challenging when alignment or trust is lacking between those who are expected to work together.
“We need to make room for emotional honesty here, because this is a topic that’s usually discussed in purely strategic terms. Leaders are people, and collaboration under pressure can give rise to all the emotions: fear, pride, uncertainty, self-doubt, and plenty more.”
On Monday 16 June, Kim will host a free webinar to unpack this important and timely topic. Alongside co-host Anca Costin, they will explore practical and human-centred ways to move forward in these situations without becoming transactional or burning out.
“The webinar is a space to talk openly while offering actionable ways to deal with what’s in front of you. Anca is the perfect co-host for this topic because, as a barrister, she operates in some very demanding environments,” says Kim.
“She also has a remarkable ability to build trust quickly, work through disagreements, and hold her ground without ‘performing’ – so participants can hear her insights and learn from her lived experience.”
Anca adds that she has learned to never disregard collaboration, even when the pressure, emotions and stakes are high.
“There is always a place for it, even when it may not be so apparent,” says Anca.
“In my experience, the higher someone is in an organisation, the harder they find it to turn their mind to collaboration. This is especially true when they’re under pressure.
“It does not mean they’re not well intended. I think it’s just the opposite: they care so much and do not want mistakes to occur, so they take the entire load on themselves without delegating or collaborating.”
To register for this free webinar, happening Monday 16 June at 12 pm, visit Eventbrite.
For more information about Kim Vella executive coaching services and popular leadership workshops, visit Kim Vella.
