Crushed by Commitments: Uncovering the Deadly Impact of Overloaded Priorities on Your Business

As we navigate through the second quarter of the financial year and the run up to Christmas, businesses across all industries are feeling the pressure of tougher-than-expected economic conditions. Many leaders are doing their best to juggle multiple priorities, but in trying to do more with less, they might be missing out on valuable opportunities. It’s not that they aren’t working hard—it’s that they’re spreading themselves too thin, focusing on too many things that aren’t really moving the needle.

In a recent chat with Moritz von Hauenschild, CEO of Gresham Capital, he pointed out something critical: many businesses coming to him seeking investment aren’t maximising their value because they’re doing too much—and much of it isn’t adding real value. They’re stuck in a cycle of busyness, mistaking activity for productivity. It's leaving money on the table. (Here's a secret - PE LOVES that because creating this focus is one way they can step into the business and maximise their investment)

The Reality of Too Many Priorities

This is a common trap for leaders, especially in uncertain economic times. The instinct is to work harder, take on more, and push through—but the real path to success lies in doing less, with a laser focus on what truly matters. However, when you’re in the trenches, dealing with every little "fire" that arises, it can be difficult to take that step back and see the bigger picture.

One client I recently worked with ran a multimillion-dollar business. For years, he had assumed that his annual budget was sufficient as a business plan. But as we looked more closely, it became clear that he was running the business from the rearview mirror, reactively responding to problems instead of leading strategically. He thought that doubling revenue just meant doubling the people and the work. He is an incredibly smart and capable man, but he was playing outside of his skill set (and he knew it, which is why he brought me in.)

After reassessing his business with the Compass Diagnostic, we refocused his efforts, ensuring that his resources were being deployed where they would have the most impact. The difference was immediate—more efficiency, more profitability, and far less stress.

Another client in Tech had never thought deeply about their competitive advantage. They were pouring time and money into initiatives that weren’t aligned with what set them apart in the market. It wasn’t until we took a step back and reassessed that they realised they were missing huge opportunities to leverage their unique strengths.

Then there was the engineering firm with a set of values, but no clearly defined behaviours to support them and an outline of what the "uncool" unsupportive behaviours were. As a result, staff were doing their own thing, and the team was constantly frustrated.

Without agreed-upon behaviours, expectations weren’t being met, and the business was suffering. After a reset and clear alignment of values and actions, the team started to click, and the business moved forward with newfound energy and purpose.

Time to Reassess and Reset

Here’s where Einstein’s theory of madness comes into play—doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results just doesn’t work. If you’re continuing to juggle too many priorities, your business will remain stuck. What’s needed is a step back to reassess your direction and ensure your resources—time, money, and energy—are focused on what will truly drive results.

Leaders often try to do this on their own, but that’s not their core skill set. When you’re too close to the problem, it’s difficult to see the big picture. It’s not about bringing in someone to tell you what to do; it’s about bringing in someone to ask the right questions and help you look at your business from a fresh perspective.

A business owner, James, the senior partner in a law firm, once told me after using Compass, “I didn’t even realise how much time I was wasting on things that weren’t delivering value. Once we refocused, the change in our profitability and team dynamics was incredible. I only wish I’d done this sooner.”

Introducing Compass

In a year that has been more challenging than expected, the smartest move you can make is to reassess where your business is heading and ensure that your resources—time, people, and money—are being used as effectively as possible. An assessment like Compass can give you the clarity to stop spinning your wheels and start seeing tangible results.

The Compass Half-Day Diagnostic is a quick, cost-effective way to get a clear view of what’s working, what isn’t, and where your business should focus its efforts. In just a few hours, you can uncover hidden inefficiencies, refocus your strategy, and ensure that every resource is aligned with a common goal.

At just $3,000, Compass could save you thousands by helping you stop pouring time and money into areas that aren’t adding value—and start investing in what truly matters.

Visit my website or DM me to learn more

Here's to your success!

Angela

#OrganisationalHealth #Diagnostic #StrategicPlanning #Productivity