What Finals, Fries, and Finding Focus Have in Common
The last few weeks of the semester at Georgia Southern University are here—and like any busy season, it’s about to get real.
In my Public Speaking classes, you can feel the shift. Students are cramming for finals, scrambling to finish projects, and furiously applying for summer jobs, real jobs, or at the very least, a job that doesn’t require them to ask, “Would you like fries with that?” (No offense to fries. Fries are great.)
There’s a certain energy that comes with this time of year. It’s a mix of pressure, urgency, and just enough caffeine to power a small city.
As much as I’m teaching public speaking, what I’m really doing right now is guiding my students through the chaos by helping them focus, prioritize, and stay steady when everything feels like it matters at once.
Busy seasons have a way of revealing leadership habits.
When things are calm, it’s easy to feel in control. But when the pressure builds, the way you lead becomes very clear, very fast.
Here are three things worth practicing right now, whether you’re managing a classroom, a team, or just your own to-do list.
Prioritize visibly. When everything feels urgent, nothing is. People need to know what matters most right now. Clarity starts with focus.
Simplify communication. This is not the time for long explanations or overcomplicated instructions. The more pressure people feel, the more they need clear communication they can act on immediately.
Check alignment often. Just because something was clear once doesn’t mean it stays that way. A quick check-in can prevent a lot of wasted effort.
Clarity is what keeps people moving forward when everything else feels like it’s speeding up.
Whether you’re leading a team, a project, or a classroom full of students trying to figure out what’s next, stay strong, my friends. We’re almost there.