It started with a packet of prawn skewers. My husband asked me how to cook them, I answered because it was quicker, and suddenly a completely ordinary Tuesday evening became a perfect example of something much bigger: invisible work.
The planning, remembering, anticipating and thinking that quietly keeps everything moving.
In this episode, I’m looking at why that cognitive load can become so sticky, both at home and in our organisations.
We’ll explore how these patterns become established, the part we might unknowingly play in maintaining them, and why good leadership means noticing who is carrying the thinking work nobody else sees. Because invisible doesn’t mean insignificant.
Highlights:
(01:30) - Prawn skewers, one simple question and a surprisingly perfect example of invisible work
(03:08) - The thinking work doesn’t automatically redistribute when life changes, it sticks
(04:12) - I answered because it was easier... and that’s exactly how patterns get established
(05:07) - Who’s quietly remembering, anticipating and holding everything together in your team?
(06:18) - If nobody names the invisible work, don’t expect it to magically redistribute itself
(07:35) - One challenge for this week: name the work you’re carrying that nobody sees
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