Why everything feels urgent (even when it isn’t)
From How to Lead with Kate Waterfall Hill by Kate Waterfall Hill
March 12, 2026 · 13 min · Episode 64
About this episode
This episode explores the impact of perceived urgency in organizations and offers strategies for effective prioritization.
In this episode of 'How to Lead,' discover how when everything feels urgent in organisations it can affect team performance and morale. Kate explains how urgency is often a result of poor prioritisation and offers practical strategies to distinguish real urgency from noise. Learn about the DISC profiling tool to understand how different personality types handle urgency, and get concrete tips to reset pace without sacrificing momentum. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Introduction: Why Everything Feels Urgent 00:20 Meet Your Host: Kate Waterfall Hill 00:48 Today's Topic: The Illusion of Urgency 00:56 Linda's Team Meeting: A Case Study 01:29 Understanding the Real Problem 01:50 The Impact of Urgency on Teams 02:06 The Role of Leadership in Creating Urgency 04:48 How Different Personalities Handle Urgency 06:10 The Risks of a Permanent Urgent Culture 06:57 Distinguishing Real Urgency from Noise 07:59 A Practical Model for Prioritization 09:50 Rebalancing Fast Pace with Quality 10:30 Practical Checklist for Leaders 11:27 Final Thoughts and Next Steps 12:02 Conclusion: Lead with Clarity, Care, and Curiosity Useful links: The Digital Academy Online Course Free Resources and more information…
People in this episode
Host: Kate Waterfall Hill
Topics covered
- urgency
- team performance
- leadership
- prioritization
- personality types
- organizational culture
Keywords
- urgency
- team morale
- leadership
- DISC profiling
- prioritization
- organizational performance
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Digital Academy
Books & works: How to Lead
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- How to Handle Attitude Issues · April 23, 2026 · 10 min
- How to Lead When the Goalposts Keep Moving · April 9, 2026 · 13 min
- Moving from the Engine Room to the Strategy Room · March 26, 2026 · 13 min
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