Overlooked, overwatered, overwhelmed

When an indoor plant is struggling, our instinct is to give it more water.

But that can drown the plant, making it worse.

Some managers are like this, and far too many sales people.

They can tell the person they are engaging with is struggling, but they keep talking anyway.

They share more advice or more information, which only adds to overwhelm.

Overwhelm is one of three core issues when you are trying to influence behaviour, along with Apathy (I can’t be bothered) and Anxiety (I’m worried about proceeding).

It’s also the issue people in my workshops tend not to recognise.

After all, we’re conditioned to think more is always better than less.

👉 But sometimes more water isn’t what the plant needs, it’s more time in the sun.