Most leaders know what matters.

They know their priorities. They know they should review their goals. They know they should proactively plan their week.

So why do so many leaders still feel overwhelmed, reactive, and stuck in firefighting mode?

In this episode of Get Organized at Work, Kayla Fahey-Ahrndt shares a powerful shift in her leadership philosophy after reviewing results from the new Leadership Operating Score Audit.

For years, she believed:

Awareness + Intention = Proactive Leadership with drives Strategic Results

But after working with leaders and analyzing assessment results, she discovered a missing ingredient: readiness.

You'll learn:

• Why awareness alone doesn't create change

• Why leaders stay reactive even when they know what matters

• The hidden cost of constant busyness

• Why slowing down feels uncomfortable (but is often the key to moving faster)

• How to build evidence that creates lasting behavior change

• The connection between weekly planning, goal reviews, and proactive leadership

If you're struggling with overwhelm, productivity, time management, leadership effectiveness, project organization, or staying focused on strategic priorities, this episode will help you understand what's really keeping you stuck.

🎯 Take the free Leadership Operating System Audit and calculate your Leadership Operating Score—a simple assessment designed to help you identify strengths, uncover gaps, and pinpoint where your current systems may be creating friction.

📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylafaheyahrndt/

Subscribe to my LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7459643636083896320

Follow the podcast on Instagram: Get Organized At Work Podcast (@getorganizedatwork) • Instagram photos and videos

🎯 Free Resource: Download the Simple Task System Template to start organizing your tasks today: https://kayla-fahey-ahrndt.myflodesk.com/simpletasklist

📓Get the OneNote Hub template I use to organize my work and leadership systems: https://kayla-fahey-ahrndt.myflodesk.com/ultimateonenotetemplate

🎥If you want to watch my OneNote Hub tutorial, it's here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Co83sC_qovw?si=nQtnaV3EQiqaQKas

Microsoft Planner: 4 Kanban Boards Every Leader Should Build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH0etm9NgkI

📖 Want the full Microsoft Planner Kanban system? Check-out my e-book: https://kayla-fahey-ahrndt.myflodesk.com/microsoft-planner-kanban-boards

🎥Watch the Active Projects List walkthrough in my OneNote Hub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEDJl9M7178

🎥Watch the Daily & Weekly Dashboard tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/nWgmoIJBCPc

🎥 Watch the Leader Standard Work and Weekly Reflections Questions tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/JQ4IFTDQV9Y

🎥Watch the Goal Setting for Professionals in OneNote | Annual Goals + Self-Assessment tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/wf7qvyBNK5o

Leadership, Productivity, Time Management, Leadership Development, Project Management, Goal Setting, Weekly Planning, Proactive Leadership, Organizational Systems, Leadership Operating System

If your workday feels reactive, chaotic, mentally cluttered, or like you’re constantly trying to “catch up,” this episode is for you.

In this rerun of one of the most impactful episodes of the Get Organized at Work podcast, Kayla Fahey-Ahrndt breaks down the hidden signs that your organizational systems at work may not actually be supporting you — even if you’re high-performing, motivated, and capable.

You’ll learn how to recognize:

• cognitive overload at work

• invisible work and mental clutter

• why your to-do list never feels done

• the real cost of reactive workflows

• signs your leadership systems are breaking down

• how disorganization impacts stress, energy, and productivity

• practical ways to create systems that actually reduce overwhelm

Whether you’re a healthcare leader, manager, working professional, entrepreneur, or busy working mom trying to stay organized, this episode will help you identify where the friction is happening — and how to build systems that create clarity, calm, and momentum.

If you’ve ever thought: “I’m working hard… so why does everything still feel messy?” this episode will help you understand why.

🎧 Listen in for practical strategies around:

• organizational systems

• leadership systems

• time management

• task management

• productivity for leaders

• reducing overwhelm at work

• proactive planning

• workflow organization

• leader standard work

• creating structure that supports your brain

🎯 Free Resource: Download the Simple Task System Template to start organizing your tasks today: https://kayla-fahey-ahrndt.myflodesk.com/simpletasklist

📓Get the OneNote Hub template I use to organize my work and leadership systems: https://kayla-fahey-ahrndt.myflodesk.com/ultimateonenotetemplate

🎥If you want to watch my OneNote Hub tutorial, it's here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Co83sC_qovw?si=nQtnaV3EQiqaQKas

🎥Watch the Active Projects List walkthrough in my OneNote Hub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEDJl9M7178

🎥Watch the Daily & Weekly Dashboard tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/nWgmoIJBCPc

🎥 Watch the Leader Standard Work and Weekly Reflections Questions tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/JQ4IFTDQV9Y

🎥Watch the Goal Setting for Professionals in OneNote | Annual Goals + Self-Assessment tutorial in my OneNote Hub: https://youtu.be/wf7qvyBNK5o

📱Join the Get Organized at Work community for deeper system training and support (plus my OneNote Hub and my 6 module Get Organized at Work Blueprint Course is included with your membership): https://leadership-unveiled-podcast-community.mn.co/landing?space_id=2638359

Keywords: organizational systems at work, productivity systems, overwhelmed at work, leadership organization, time management for leaders, reduce overwhelm, mental clutter, workflow systems, organization for professionals, proactive leadership, leader standard work, task management systems, working mom productivity, healthcare leadership, OneNote organization