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Urgency Culture: The Institutional Version of Whac-A-Mole

Writer's picture: Ibrahim AlbuainainIbrahim Albuainain

All what you have to do is just to unplug the game!

AUTHOR Ibrahim AlbuainainĀ - FEBRUARY 2025


Imagine your workday as an endless game of Whac-A-Mole. As soon as you hit one mole, another pops up, demanding immediate attention.


In this case, you have some options: one is to drop the hammer and quit, two is keep hitting moles for the rest of your career life, three is to switch off the game.


I personally prefer the third option.

ILLUSTRATION BY Ibrahim Albuainain.Ā Extended high-intensity gaming sessions can be mentally draining
ILLUSTRATION BY Ibrahim Albuainain.Ā Extended high-intensity gaming sessions can be mentally draining

Honestly, is your job about playing Whac-A-Mole until you give up? Of course not.


While some professions like emergency medical services or firefighting inherently deal with urgent matters, jobs in general expect employees to think, contribute, and grow as individuals.


However, if you are not given the space to do so, what would the result be? Chronic stress, decreased motivation, and a work environment that prioritizes speed over quality.


Therefore, in this blog post, we'll explore some of the root causes behind urgency culture, the true cost of false urgency and provide strategies to combat this destructive trend.


1. Some Sources of Urgency Culture


Leadership practices stand out as the primary culprit in fostering urgency culture. Micromanagement, ambiguous prioritization, and crisis-driven approaches create an environment where every task is deemed critical.


Compounding this issue is the frequent lack of proper historical record-keeping. This oversight adds salt to the wound, often requiring dedicated employees to search for crucial information even outside of regular working hours.


Moreover, technology plays a significant role in blurring the lines between professional and personal life. Smartphones, instant messaging, and relentless email notifications create an expectation of immediate response.


Such technological advancement traps employees in a perpetual state of reactivity, further reinforcing the urgency culture.


2. The Hidden Cost of False Urgency


False urgency is more than just a workplace inconvenience; it's a systemic productivity killer.


When organizations prioritize speed over quality, they inadvertently create an environment that undermines performance and employee well-being. The constant pressure to respond immediately leads to decreased work quality, increased stress levels, and significant mental health challenges.


StudiesĀ have shown that rapid context switching can reduce productivity by up to 40%.

ILLUSTRATION BY Ibrahim Albuainain.Ā Constant urgency is like playing tetris.
ILLUSTRATION BY Ibrahim Albuainain.Ā Constant urgency is like playing tetris.

To contextualize this: if aircraft manufacturers adopted a similar approach, we'd see a surge in delays and accidents from technical issues. The same principle applies to human performance and well-being!


Organizations operating within a false urgency culture often fail to achieve their strategic potential. Ask yourself: Did you truly accomplish the strategic milestone you set at the beginning of the year with the expected quality? If so, consider whether this achievement accounted for the well-being of those who made it happen.


If you can answer yes to both questions, congratulations, you likely have the space to think and grow as a human-being.


However, if you answered no to either, you may benefit from continuing to read this blog post to understand how urgency culture might be impacting your organization's effectiveness and your team's well-being.


3. Combating False Urgency


Urgency culture requires a comprehensive approach that involves individual and organizational transformation.


It all starts with those who understand the value of quality, not only the quality of work, but also the quality of life.

ILLUSTRATION BY Ibrahim Albuainain.Ā Hand in hand, we can push back against urgency culture.
ILLUSTRATION BY Ibrahim Albuainain.Ā Hand in hand, we can push back against urgency culture.

This can be done through implementing effective time management techniques like:


  • Advance time-blocking.


  • Establishing clear communication protocols which respect personal space.


  • Creating boundaries around digital communication.


Organizations must shift from a reactive to a proactive work culture, but the question is how?


  • Developing systems that prioritize meaningful work over constant firefighting.


  • Training managers must recognize and prevent urgency-driven behaviors through training and awareness campaigns.


  • Celebrating thoughtful and strategic contributions to reshape the workplace dynamics.


Additionally, promoting a culture that values employee well-being and recognizes the importance of mental space for creativity and innovation is a MUST not an option.


Last Thoughts


Breaking free from urgency culture is not about eliminating all sense of immediacy but about creating a balanced, thoughtful approach to work.


As we progress, the organizations that will truly excel are those that value and nurture human capabilities over mere mechanical output.Ā 


This transformation demands strong leadership, a readiness to question established practices, and a core belief that exceptional results stem from deliberate, concentrated efforts rather than perpetual, reactive hustle.


Organizations of all sizes have the opportunity to unlock their full potential and thrive in the ever-changing demands of todayā€™s business landscape. Letā€™s not forget that weā€™re no longer in the 1760s. Itā€™s 2025 already!

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