Issue #7 – When You’re the One Holding Things Up

You’ve got 14 open threads.
Everyone’s waiting on something.
And you’re the bottleneck.

It’s a brutal realization — especially when you’re the one who's supposed to keep things moving.

🧱 Why It Happens

You’re not lazy.
You’re not disorganized.
You’re just overloaded.

You’re leading the planning, answering stakeholder emails, chasing approvals, and doing the emotional labor of holding the team together.

In the process, one small thing lands on your plate — and sits there.

Not because it’s hard.
But because it’s heavy.

And the longer it sits, the heavier it gets.

⚙️ What To Do When You’re the Blocker

1. Name it. Fast.
   “Hey — I owe you this. It’s stuck on my side. Here’s my ETA.”
   Avoiding the truth creates drag. Owning it builds trust.
   

2. Break it down.
   One decision. One email. One draft.
   Don’t let a small boulder become a wall.
   

3. Ask for a nudge.
   Give someone permission to follow up.
   Accountability isn’t weakness — it’s smart leadership.
   

4. Use systems to catch your blind spots.
   I review every Friday:
   

   • What’s stuck because of me?
     

   • Where am I the critical path?
     

5. Forgive yourself and fix it.
   Shame is a terrible productivity tool.
   Don’t spiral. Just move.
   

🛠 Try This

✅ Open your task tracker or notebook right now.
Look for any task that says: “waiting for Joey” or “Joey to review.”

✅ Pick one.
Send a message. Give an update.
Even if the update is: “I see it. I’m on it.”

You’ll feel lighter already.

💡 Take This With You

Project management isn’t about perfection.
It’s about momentum.

Every PM drops the ball sometimes.
The good ones pick it back up — fast — and let their team see them do it.

That’s how trust grows.

And projects move.

Until next time,
Joey