Get Organized at Work | Career, Leadership, Project Management, Productivity, Time Management

The One Leadership Scorecard Every Manager Needs
If you’re a manager who feels like you’re constantly reacting, checking multiple systems, or trying to hold the entire picture of your team and work in your head, you may not need another to-do list—you may need a Leadership Scorecard.
In this episode of Get Organized at Work, I’m breaking down the three areas every manager should be able to see clearly: organizational performance, team health, and Leader Standard Work.
You’ll learn:
The difference between a Weekly Dashboard and a Leadership Scorecard
What metrics and signals actually belong on a leadership scorecard
How to think about leading vs. lagging indicators
Why team health deserves visibility alongside business performance
How Leader Standard Work helps you measure whether you’re consistently doing the leadership work that drives results
Why a scorecard is not your entire system—but an important part of your Leadership Operating System
How better visibility can help you move from reactive management to intentional leadership
The goal isn’t to measure everything. It’s to make the few things that matter most visible—so you can quickly understand what’s working, what needs attention, and where you need to lead.
Because getting organized at work isn’t about becoming better at remembering everything. It’s about building systems that allow you to remember less.
🎙️ Next week on Get Organized at Work
We're continuing the series with The Hidden Cost of Keeping Everything in Your Head—because when you're the person remembering the details…there is a cost to that.
And I think a lot of really high-performing leaders don't realize just how much energy they're spending being the human integration layer for their work.
✨ Free Live Workshop: Build Your Leadership Operating System
If this episode hits home, join me on September 29 for my free live workshop, Build Your Leadership Operating System.
We'll explore why successful leaders become increasingly reactive as complexity grows, the five systems behind the way you lead, and how to start building a Leadership Operating System you trust.
👉 Save your seat: https://www.kfaconsulting.org/build-your-leadership-operating-system-workshop
🎁 Resources Mentioned
📋 Take the FREE Leadership Operating System Audit
🌱 Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals
🎙️ Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode in this Leadership Operating System series.
⭐ If this episode was helpful...
If you enjoyed today's conversation, I'd be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review, or share this episode with another leader. It helps more people discover the show and build systems that create more capacity for what matters most.
Continue Your Leadership Journey:
🎯 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
Keywords: leadership scorecard, leadership dashboard, manager dashboard, leadership metrics, management metrics, Leader Standard Work, leadership operating system, manager productivity, leadership systems, team performance metrics, team health, leading indicators, lagging indicators, strategic leadership, reactive management, leadership planning, how to be a better manager, management systems, getting organized at work

Stop Managing Tasks. Start Managing Systems
If your task list keeps getting longer but you still feel like you're constantly reacting at work, you may not have a task-management problem.
You may have a systems problem.
As your leadership grows, so does the complexity you're managing: more projects, people, meetings, decisions, information, delegated work, follow-up, and competing priorities. Eventually, even a great to-do list can't hold all of it.
In this episode of Get Organized at Work, I'm breaking down why leaders need to stop trying to manage everything like a task and start building the systems underneath the way they work and lead.
We'll talk about:
Why traditional task management starts to break down as your responsibilities grow
The five interconnected systems of a Leadership Operating System: Information, Projects, Tasks, Leadership, and Strategic Planning
What happens when your systems aren't connected—and you become the integration layer
Why lack of visibility can keep even highly capable leaders stuck in reaction mode
How to identify the system underneath the friction you're experiencing at work
The shift from remembering and carrying everything yourself to creating systems you can actually trust
Because the goal isn't to become better at carrying everything.
It's to build a way of working that helps you consistently know:
What matters.Where it stands.What needs you.And what can wait.
If you've been searching for better task management, project management, productivity, organization, or time-management strategies at work, this episode will help you zoom out and ask a much more powerful question:
What systems would make this easier to lead?
🎙️ Next week on Get Organized at Work
We're continuing the series with The One Leadership Dashboard Every Manager Needs—and talking about how to create visibility across the work you're responsible for leading.
✨ Free Live Workshop: Build Your Leadership Operating System
If this episode hits home, join me on September 29 for my free live workshop, Build Your Leadership Operating System.
We'll explore why successful leaders become increasingly reactive as complexity grows, the five systems behind the way you lead, and how to start building a Leadership Operating System you trust.
👉 Save your seat: https://www.kfaconsulting.org/build-your-leadership-operating-system-workshop
🎁 Resources Mentioned
📋 Take the FREE Leadership Operating System Audit
🌱 Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals
🎙️ Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode in this Leadership Operating System series.
⭐ If this episode was helpful...
If you enjoyed today's conversation, I'd be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review, or share this episode with another leader. It helps more people discover the show and build systems that create more capacity for what matters most.
Continue Your Leadership Journey:
🎯 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
Keywords
leadership operating system, task management, task management for leaders, productivity at work, leadership productivity, how to get organized at work, organization for leaders, leadership systems, project management, information management, strategic planning, leadership management, overwhelmed at work, reactive leadership, productivity systems, time management for leaders, how to prioritize at work, delegation and follow-up, leadership dashboard, work organization

Why High Performers Still Feel Disorganized
Have you ever looked around your desk (or your inbox) and thought...
"How am I this busy and still feel so disorganized?"
If you're a high-performing leader, manager, project manager, healthcare professional, or business owner, the answer might surprise you.
In this episode of Get Organized at Work, I'm sharing one of the biggest leadership lessons I've learned this year:
Success creates complexity.
As your career grows, your responsibilities don't just increase—they become exponentially more complex. The systems that helped you succeed early in your career often aren't the systems that will sustain you as a leader.
If you've been feeling overwhelmed, scattered, or like you're constantly juggling too many priorities, this episode will help you see your work through a completely different lens.
We'll explore:
Why high performers often feel disorganized
The hidden cost of leadership growth
Why more discipline isn't usually the answer
How complexity changes the way leaders need to work
Why building a Leadership Operating System can create more clarity, confidence, and follow-through
This episode kicks off a brand-new series exploring the five core systems every leader needs to thrive in today's increasingly complex workplace.
Because getting organized isn't about doing more.
It's about creating the clarity to lead what matters most.
🎁 Resources Mentioned
📋 Take the FREE Leadership Operating System Audit
🌱 Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals
🎙️ Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode in this Leadership Operating System series.
⭐ If this episode was helpful...
If you enjoyed today's conversation, I'd be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review, or share this episode with another leader. It helps more people discover the show and build systems that create more capacity for what matters most.
Continue Your Leadership Journey:
🎯 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
SEO Keywords
Leadership Development • Leadership Systems • Productivity for Leaders • Executive Function • Organizational Systems • Time Management • Project Management • Information Management • Leadership Operating System • Get Organized at Work • Manager Productivity • Leadership Habits • Workplace Organization • High Performance • Personal Knowledge Management • OneNote Productivity • Leadership Podcast • Healthcare Leadership • Professional Development
 

The Biggest Leadership Lesson I Learned This Year
Today is my birthday, and birthdays have a funny way of making me pause and reflect.
As I looked back over the past year, I realized something that completely changed how I think about leadership, organization, and even my own business.
For years, I thought I was teaching OneNote and time management. But after working with hundreds of leaders, creating the Ultimate OneNote Hub, launching the Leadership Operating System Audit, and hearing incredible success stories from members of our community, I realized I was actually teaching something much bigger.
In this episode, I'm sharing the five leadership systems that I believe every leader needs:
📝 Task Management – Know your top priorities each day.
📁 Project Management – Always know the status of your projects.
📄 Information Management – Quickly find meeting notes and important information when you need it.
👥 Leadership Management – Know who and what needs your leadership attention.
🎯 Strategic Planning – Pause to plan instead of constantly reacting.
I'll also share what I've learned from the first 26 Leadership Operating System Audit responses, why I believe most leaders don't actually have a time management problem, and how one weak system can quietly create friction throughout your entire workday.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed, reactive, or like you're working hard but never quite getting ahead, I think this episode will help you identify where to start.
Remember: You don't need to rebuild your entire life.
You just need to build the next system.
🎁 Resources Mentioned
📋 Take the FREE Leadership Operating System Audit
🌱 Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals
 
⭐ If this episode was helpful...
If you enjoyed today's conversation, I'd be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review, or share this episode with another leader. It helps more people discover the show and build systems that create more capacity for what matters most.
Continue Your Leadership Journey:
🎯 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
 
Keywords
leadership, leadership development, leadership systems, leadership operating system, productivity, workplace organization, time management, project management. task management, strategic planning, information management, meeting notes, OneNote. Microsoft OneNote, OneNote for work. executive leadership, healthcare leadership, manager productivity, new manager, leader organization, weekly planning, work organization, professional development, work systems, organizational systems, personal productivity, intentional leadership, leadership habits, leadership podcast, get organized at work

Why Slowing Down Feels Wrong (Until It Changes Everything) 
Why does slowing down feel so...wrong?
If you've ever felt guilty for blocking 30 minutes to plan your week, reflect, or simply think ahead, you're not alone.
Many high-performing professionals have been conditioned to believe that productivity only counts if it looks busy. But what if the most valuable work you do isn't answering emails or checking off tasks—but preventing problems before they happen?
In this episode, I share a story from my years working in a hospital blood bank that completely changed how I think about productivity, leadership, and creating systems that reduce chaos before it starts. We'll explore why planning feels uncomfortable, why your nervous system may resist slowing down, and how creating intentional thinking time can completely transform the way you lead.
If you're ready to stop reacting and start leading proactively, this episode is for you.
✨ In this episode you'll learn:
Why planning often feels "unproductive" (even though it isn't)
The difference between visible work and invisible work
How high-performing leaders create space to think
Why preventing chaos is more valuable than constantly responding to it
One simple practice you can implement this week
Next Steps:1. Take the Leadership Operating System Audit - ➡️Leadership Operating System Audit Link
2. Join the Get Organized at Work Community and improve your score with us through our weekly practice - 📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals
Keywords
leadership development, productivity mindset, weekly planning, time management, high performer, leadership habits, leadership operating system, organization, work systems, productivity tips, manager development, burnout prevention, systems thinking, planning ahead, leadership skills
Continue Your Leadership Journey:
🎯 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

What You Can't See in Hero Mode (And Why It Matters)
What if the goal isn't to become more productive... but more present?
When we're in "hero mode," our brains become incredibly efficient at scanning for problems, deadlines, and the next thing that needs our attention. It's how we survive busy seasons.
But it's also why we miss so much.
In this episode, I'm sharing one of the biggest lessons I've learned this summer: the connection between margin, noticing, and leadership. We'll talk about why organization isn't just about getting more done—it's about creating enough space to see the people, opportunities, patterns, and moments that matter most.
If you've been feeling like you're constantly reacting instead of leading, this episode is for you.
In this episode:
Why hero mode narrows our perspective
The difference between surviving and leading
How systems create margin—not just productivity
Questions that help you become a more observant leader
Why noticing might be your greatest leadership skill
☕ Coffee with Kayla Challenge:This week, spend five intentional minutes simply noticing. No fixing. No optimizing. Just ask yourself:
"What have I been too busy to see?"
☕ Inside the Get Organized at Work Community, we're practicing these leadership habits together every Monday during Coffee with Kayla. We'll open our Weekly Dashboards, plan the week, and build the habits that help leaders become more intentional over time.
Next Steps:1. Take the Leadership Operating System Audit - ➡️Leadership Operating System Audit Link
2. Join the Get Organized at Work Community and improve your score with us through weekly Leadership Sprints - 📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals
Remember: Leadership isn't about having all the answers. Sometimes the greatest value you bring to a conversation is asking the question that helps everyone else think differently.
 
Continue Your Leadership Journey:
🎯 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

The Most Valuable Skill I Learned Was Asking Better Questions
The most valuable leadership skill I've learned wasn't having better answers—it was asking better questions.
Early in my career, I believed great leaders were the ones with the answers. The more responsibility I took on, the more I realized that the highest-impact leaders often do something very different.
They ask better questions.
In this episode, I'm sharing the questions that have transformed the way I lead, facilitate meetings, make decisions, and think strategically. These aren't questions I learned overnight—they've developed over years of building systems, creating more mental capacity, and learning to lead at a higher level.
We'll explore:
Why leaders don't need to have all the answers
The questions I ask in meetings to create clarity
How better questions lead to better decisions
Why systems create the capacity to think strategically
A simple challenge you can use in your next meeting
If you've ever walked into a meeting feeling like you needed to prove yourself, this episode is for you.
☕ Inside the Get Organized at Work Community, we're practicing these leadership habits together every Monday during Coffee with Kayla. We'll open our Weekly Dashboards, plan the week, and build the habits that help leaders become more intentional over time.
Next Steps:1. Take the Leadership Operating System Audit - ➡️Leadership Operating System Audit Link
2. Join the Get Organized at Work Community and improve your score with us through weekly Leadership Sprints - 📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals
Remember: Leadership isn't about having all the answers. Sometimes the greatest value you bring to a conversation is asking the question that helps everyone else think differently.
 
Continue Your Leadership Journey:
🎯 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

Stop Getting Organized. Start Building Leadership Capacity.
Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why getting organized actually changes the way you lead?
For years, I've taught productivity systems, OneNote, weekly planning, and dashboards. I've experienced firsthand how these tools transformed my own career—but this weekend, I finally found the words to explain why they work.
In this episode, I'm sharing one of the biggest mindset shifts I've had in a long time:
Systems don't just help you get organized. They create capacity.
And that capacity gives you the mental space to notice patterns, ask better questions, make better decisions, and become a more intentional leader.
In this episode, we'll talk about:
Why organization isn't the ultimate goal
How systems create mental capacity
The leadership shift from having all the answers to asking better questions
Why awareness is the foundation of better decision-making
A simple challenge to help you create more capacity this week
I'm also sharing an exciting update about a new way we'll be practicing these leadership habits together inside the Get Organized at Work Community through weekly Leadership Sprints.
If you've ever felt like you're capable of more but stuck reacting to your day instead of leading it, I think this episode will resonate with you.
Next Steps:1. Take the Leadership Operating System Audit - ➡️Leadership Operating System Audit Link
2. Join the Get Organized at Work Community and improve your score with us through weekly Leadership Sprints - 📱Join My Podcast Community and App for Professionals
Remember: Getting organized isn't the destination. It's how we create the capacity to become the leaders we're capable of becoming.
---
Resources
📋 Free Simple Task List: If you're feeling overwhelmed, download my free Simple Task List to capture everything in one place, organize your work, and identify your top 3–5 priorities (or even just 1–3 during especially busy seasons).
 ➡️https://kayla-fahey-ahrndt.myflodesk.com/simpletasklist
🧠 Ultimate OneNote Hub: Ready to build your complete Leadership Operating System? My Ultimate OneNote Hub includes weekly, monthly, and annual dashboards, project management tools, leadership templates, meeting notes, goals, and everything you need to lead proactively instead of reactively.
➡️https://kayla-fahey-ahrndt.myflodesk.com/ultimateonenotetemplate
📊 Leadership Operating System AuditCurious where you fall on the reactive vs. proactive leadership scale? Take my free Leadership Operating System Audit to discover your strengths, identify opportunities for growth, and receive personalized next steps.
➡️Leadership Operating System Audit Link
If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you followed the podcast and shared it with another leader who's ready to stop reacting and start leading with intention.
Remember: Organization isn't the goal. Freedom is.
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CONNECT WITH KAYLA:
📱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
 
Additional Resources:
🎯 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

The Freedom Every Leader Is Really Looking For
As we celebrate 250 years of independence this Fourth of July, I want to explore a different kind of freedom—the kind every leader is really looking for.
Not freedom from work.
Freedom from constant reaction.
Freedom from carrying your to-do list around in your head.
Freedom to leave work on time, be present with your family, and lead with intention instead of urgency.
This week has been a real test of that for me. With sick kids, getting sick myself, and a shortened holiday work week, I found myself relying on my Leadership Operating System more than ever. It didn't prevent life from happening—but it helped me navigate the chaos with clarity.
In this episode, I'm sharing the three questions I ask whenever life interrupts my plans and how simple leadership systems create the freedom to think clearly, prioritize what matters, and protect your energy.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why freedom—not productivity—is the goal of effective leadership
The difference between reacting to work and leading with intention
The three questions I use to prioritize during overwhelming weeks
How a Leadership Operating System helps you make better decisions under pressure
Simple ways to create more freedom in your workweek
Free Resources
📋 Free Simple Task List: If you're feeling overwhelmed, download my free Simple Task List to capture everything in one place, organize your work, and identify your top 3–5 priorities (or even just 1–3 during especially busy seasons).
 ➡️https://kayla-fahey-ahrndt.myflodesk.com/simpletasklist
🧠 Ultimate OneNote Hub: Ready to build your complete Leadership Operating System? My Ultimate OneNote Hub includes weekly, monthly, and annual dashboards, project management tools, leadership templates, meeting notes, goals, and everything you need to lead proactively instead of reactively.
➡️https://kayla-fahey-ahrndt.myflodesk.com/ultimateonenotetemplate
📊 Leadership Operating System AuditCurious where you fall on the reactive vs. proactive leadership scale? Take my free Leadership Operating System Audit to discover your strengths, identify opportunities for growth, and receive personalized next steps.
➡️Leadership Operating System Audit Link
If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you followed the podcast and shared it with another leader who's ready to stop reacting and start leading with intention.
Remember: Organization isn't the goal. Freedom is.
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CONNECT WITH KAYLA:
📱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
 
Additional Resources:
🎯 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

You Know What Matters. So Why Are You Still Reactive?
The Missing Link Between Reactive and Proactive Leadership
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.
CONNECT WITH KAYLA:
📱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
 
Additional Resources:
🎯 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
Keywords:
Leadership, Productivity, Time Management, Leadership Development, Project Management, Goal Setting, Weekly Planning, Proactive Leadership, Organizational Systems, Leadership Operating System