When the pressure has
become more immediate.

What "urgent" often looks like

For senior people, urgency rarely arrives as one dramatic moment. More often it looks like:

• Something at work has come to a head, and you need to respond.
• You've reached a limit — and you know you can't keep going the way you have been.
• A significant decision feels unavoidable: stepping back, stepping away, a difficult conversation, a change of role.
• Several pressures have landed at once, and you can't see where to start.

The first priority is breathing room

When pressure is at its highest, it is also at its hardest to think clearly. The first piece of work is usually to stabilise — not to fix everything.

• Separate what needs a decision now from what can wait. Not everything that feels urgent has to be resolved today.
• Reduce the immediate load where you can. What can be paused, handed over or put on hold while you regain your footing?
• Avoid making irreversible decisions at the point of maximum pressure — unless it genuinely can't wait, and then make it as clearly as possible.
• Work out what comes next once there is enough space to see it.

Create breathing room before making major decisions.

Getting in touch quickly

If you're ready to talk, you can book an Executive appointment directly and choose the first time that suits you. If nothing suitable is showing, send a message and mention that it's time-sensitive.

If something you tell me suggests that another professional would be better placed to help — for example your GP, occupational health or a legal adviser — I'll say so. Good support includes knowing when somebody else is the right person.