Three Questions to Ask Yourself During the Hustle and Bustle of Year-End

As we head into the holidays and new year, I find myself reflecting on the intense weight nonprofit leaders carry—especially at this time of year.

• Community need is ever-present, and somehow it feels even more visible when so many are celebrating their abundance.

• Well-meaning individuals want to help now but are nowhere to be found in July (except maybe at the beach, where you really can’t do anything but envy them).

• Budgets hinge on the unpredictable outcome of year-end giving—often unclear until about 11:00 PM on December 31.

And, if you dare to have a personal life, you might be scrambling to buy scented candles for hostess gifts, preparing for in-law shenanigans, and combing the internet for vegan brisket recipes.

Then it hits: the overwhelm, the avalanche, the hustle and bustle turning frantic and scattered.

Amid all this chaos, how can you maintain balance? How can you figure out your next best move? How can you calm the heck down?

Here are three questions that have helped me focus, move past the tizzy, and stay on course. They still do.

What is happening that I can control?

These are the situations you have direct power over: how you handle events, the decisions you make, and the thoughts that either contribute to balance or throw you off-kilter.

• Pick up morale a bit by popping in to visit the after school program where the staff is in need of some encouragement.

• Have lunch with that nonprofit colleague (or two or three) who gets just how much you all need the time together.

• Stop compulsively refreshing your organization’s donation page and … perhaps read a book, knit, or take a nap.

We often forget these possibilities while obsessing over…

What is happening that I have no control over?

This is your chance to face, head-on, events that affect you but over which you have no direct power (though you might wish otherwise). Spend no more time or mental energy trying to control these.

• The latest global tragedy or political outrage that might divert funders from your work.

• The CFO who stepped down unexpectedly last month.

• The snowstorm that could keep you from the beach resort that was supposed to help you relax after all this angst.

We sometimes assume something belongs here when really it answers this question …

What is not within my control but could be influenced?

Here lies the space where you don’t have full agency, but you can affect outcomes by being the persuasive communicator that landed you this plum gig. Taking action in these situations can help you move toward positive change and live in your power rather than feel powerless.

• Strategize with your lobbyist about how to best handle the changing political environment.

• Grab 15 minutes with your board president to work toward consensus on that nagging unresolved issue before the January board meeting—the one where you really need to arrive at a decision.

• Send a note or make a quick call to that corporate donor who turned you down—again. Tell them about that flash of genius you had about a partnership that might be of interest to them.

The sense of overwhelm often stems from fixating on things we cannot control or feeling powerless in situations where we could exert influence.

Now, I know how busy you are (hence this blog is about 700 words—not the usual 1,400. You’re welcome). I’m not suggesting you carve out an hour to journal your thoughts and feelings. These questions work just as well in the shower, on the subway, or while signing hundreds of year-end appeal letters.

When work feels like it’s taking over or spinning out of control, give yourself a three-minute pause. Spend one minute on each of the questions above then focus your energy where progress is possible. And let go all that stuff you really can’t do anything about, OK?  

Exercises like this one help many of my coaching clients manage the deluge of demands they face in their roles. To learn more about my coaching practice and how I support busy leaders, set up a free consultation or email me at gary@garybagley.com.