Good Systems · public information library

What can I do at work to help someone when they cannot think clearly under pressure anymore?

People come here to understand why something in everyday life feels harder, different or more costly than it should — and what might make it work better.

Short answer

Under pressure, clearer work beats more pressure.

What this can look like

More messages and tighter deadlines can make thinking narrower and errors more likely.

Why it can happen

Competing requests, unclear authority and impossible timeframes consume the attention needed for good decisions. Name the priority, remove conflicts and allow time to think.

What might help

Clarify one priority, reduce competing requests and allow time to regroup.

What the research helps explain

WHO describes burn-out as an occupational phenomenon linked to chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Australian guidance recognises that workload, control, support and work design affect wellbeing and performance; they are organisational responsibilities as well as individual experiences.

What can vary

Fatigue, cognitive changes and reduced capacity can have many causes. Do not diagnose burnout, depression or illness from work behaviour, or ask employees to disclose private health information to access fair work design.

For this situation

For you, do not treat repeated urgency as normal operating practice.

More info and original sources

Poko summarises the relevance of public original sources and links out for anyone who wants to read more.