Reference no: EM132334744

Question

Jim's wife waves goodbye as she heads out to work, leaving in time to drop the baby at daycare. Jim is standing over his older son, who is still putting on his shoes and socks. "It's 8:05 and there is no way I am going to get to work on time" Jim yelled, more to himself than anyone else. "But I need you to sign my permission slip for the field trip. It has to be handed in today or I can't go" his son yells back. "Why didn't you have me sign it last night?" asks Jim.

Somehow they make it to school with the permission slip, and Jim heads to work. Traffic is backed up (as usual) and he won't be able to make up any of the lost time on his commute. When he finally gets to the office, his co-worker Jane pops her head in his door and asks him to send an electronic copy of their presentation for the 10AM meeting. Jim reaches into his pocket and realizes he left the flash drive with the presentation at home. He must have forgotten it when he finished working on the file at 6AM - getting up 2 hours early to finish it. With his frustration mounting, he takes his anger out on his admin, Mary, who unfortunately chose that moment to remind him of the 10AM meeting. "I don't need constant reminding Mary. I have a calendar and I can read!" He opens his email and sees there are 53 new emails since he left the office last night. He slumps in his chair, not sure how to get out of this mess. He walks out of his office and finds Mary at her desk. "Sorry, Mary. First I'm yelling at my kid, then you, and I forgot my flash drive - again. I'm losing my mind. Something has got to change!"

1. What problems is Jim facing?

2. What strategies could he use to better manage?

3. If you were Jim, how would you handle the situation this morning?