What To Do When Everything At Work Is Urgent - Track Changes On Podcast Ep 13

📌 Read the full article on Substack: https://www.trackchangeson.com/p/why-... Why is everything at work so urgent, even when most of us aren't dealing with life-or-death situations? From last-minute requests to unrealistic expectations at work, corporate life can feel like a constant emergency, even when the work itself isn't particularly time-sensitive. This episode of Track Changes On explores why a constant sense of urgency at work has become such a familiar part of corporate culture. Drawing on my experience moving from journalism into corporate communications, I look at the difference between genuine deadlines and the unnecessary pressure organisations create through poor planning, management behaviour and expectations around responsiveness. We also explore the research behind workplace telepressure and the mere-urgency effect, which helps explain why people sometimes prioritise less important tasks simply because they appear urgent. And we look at how bad managers and organisational hierarchies can contribute to unrealistic deadlines, even when nobody intended to create an emergency. Finally, we discuss practical ways to manage competing priorities, question unreasonable deadlines and improve time management without damaging workplace relationships. It's a useful perspective on why corporate culture can feel toxic, and what employees and leaders can do to reduce unnecessary pressure. In this episode: Why everything at work seems urgent, even when the consequences of delay are minor What working in journalism taught me about genuine deadlines Why corporate workplaces confuse responsiveness with commitment and performance How workplace telepressure creates expectations of immediate availability Why employees often overestimate how quickly managers expect email responses How seniority and organisational hierarchy can turn routine requests into urgent priorities Why poor planning and delayed management decisions create last-minute emergencies What the mere-urgency effect tells us about how deadlines influence our priorities How constant interruptions affect concentration and productivity Why unrealistic expectations at work can make effective time management difficult How to question deadlines and negotiate priorities without appearing uncooperative What managers can do to reduce unnecessary urgency within their teams Supporting the show: If you enjoy my work and would like to support it, here are a few things I've created: 🛒 Track Changes On Shop (https://trackchangeson.etsy.com) - Coffee mugs for corporate rebels 📖 Do Give Up Your Day Job (https://carolinewarnes.gumroad.com/l/...) - Guide to corporate exits and transitions to self-employment About Track Changes On: Track Changes On explores the future of corporate work, AI, careers and organisational change. New episodes every week. 📩 Subscribe on Substack: https://www.trackchangeson.com Connect with me: 📸 Instagram:   / carolinewarnes.sydney   🧵 Threads: https://www.threads.com/@carolinewarnes