How overwhelmed managers can turn down the pressure

2026-10-28

Overwhelmed managers can blame the division of their workloads, writes David Burkus, an organizational psychologist who points to Gallup data that says 97% of US managers continue to handle individual-contributor tasks they did before promotion. Burkus recommends spending 60 seconds before one-on-ones to clear attention residue, scheduling regular feedback sessions, and prioritizing technical work over administrative tasks.

AAF SmartBrief

Designed specifically for advertisers, agencies and media companies, AAF SmartBrief is a free, daily email newsletter. By providing the latest need-to-know industry news and information AAF SmartBrief saves you time and keeps you smart.

SUBSCRIBE