Shared Sense of Urgency

Delivery companies and many retail establishments are willing to act on our sense of urgency when we are willing to pay a quick delivery premium or expedite charge. Each party has clearly defined expectations. In order to get others to share our sense of urgency, we need to give them a reason, financial or other, to want to meet our expected timeline. In our personal relationships, it often only takes clearly communicating when we want or need something done.


In other cases, we must realize that our time-sensitivity doesn’t necessarily mean a lot to others who have no way to benefit from our desire to be served quickly. Hospital emergency rooms share our sense of urgency only when we present a true medical emergency. Because so many patients present non-medically urgent conditions, appropriate care is delivered based upon the hospital’s timeline. And, it doesn’t matter to the other passengers in the airport security line that we’re cutting it close to make our flight. They all have planes to catch as well.

When time is of the essence to us, we must create a shared sense of urgency with others.