Executive Summary
When employees say “I’m too busy for coaching,” they often remain stuck in the same cycle months later—overwhelmed, stressed, and unable to find space for change. This case study documents how a team manager at a leading insurance company, broke that pattern in just 30 days, achieving measurable results that challenge conventional thinking about when to invest in personal development.
The Challenge: Caught in the Vicious Cycle
In September, as one of our participants headed into one of the busiest times of the year, she was overwhelmed. She faced what we call the “vicious cycle”—a common trap where professionals find themselves:
- Too busy to step back and evaluate their approach
- Too stressed to create space for new strategies
- Too overwhelmed to try something different
But here’s what makes her story different: she chose to invest in coaching as her first priority anyway.
Unlike many employees, she didn’t want to wait for “the right time” to invest in coaching. While most people would have waited until workloads decreased and stress eased, she saw the busiest time of the year as the perfect opportunity to become more productive with the guidance of Impro as her priority.
The Counterintuitive Solution
Despite her overwhelming workload, our participant made a decision that goes against conventional wisdom: she committed to Impro’s 22/8 focus technique and additional planning strategies provided by her Impro Strategist.
What She Accomplished in 30 Days
16 completed 22/8 focus cycles
Building sustainable productivity habits through consistent practice impact
~10 new productivity habits developed
Creating a personalized system adapted to her real work environment
90% control of tasks achieved
Moving from completely overwhelmed to confident and organized
150 minutes saved per week
Measurable time efficiency through improved focus techniques
Enhanced work quality
Catching patterns and adding strategic insights that would have been missed while working in a fatigued state
The Transformation: In Her Own Words
"I really feel like I've accomplished something with this technique. I also spent some time comparing how the last quarter of the year has been in previous years compared to this year. I have as much work, maybe more, but this year has been a lot less stressful having implemented all of these things into my planning and workday. I was feeling so overwhelmed when we started this in September but I've been getting through things efficiently, effectively and have a good handle on what I need to do and how to do it."
Beyond the quantitative improvements, she developed sophisticated adaptability—navigating new in-office requirements with strategic thinking, adjusting her approach based on the environment rather than forcing one method everywhere. She built a personalized productivity system that works in real life, not just in theory.
Why This Matters: Breaking the Waiting Pattern
We consistently observe this pattern with professionals: they say “I’m too busy to be coached.” Three months later, they’re still too busy. Six months later, nothing has changed. They remain stuck in the same loop.
The “right time” to invest in productivity and stress management isn’t when workload decreases—it’s precisely when you’re overwhelmed. Our participant’s story proves that breakthrough happens when you make a counterintuitive choice: investing in yourself at your busiest moment.
The Broader Implications
This case study raises important questions for organizations:
- How many employees are stuck in the same vicious cycle?
- How many are waiting for “the right time” that will never come?
- What is the cumulative cost of this waiting pattern across teams?
The Path Forward
This isn’t just a coaching success story—it’s a case study in organizational possibility. It demonstrates that with the right tools and support, employees can break free from overwhelm and transform their relationship with work.
The question isn’t whether your employees need productivity support—it’s whether they’ll take the counterintuitive step of investing in it when they need it most. This case study proves that breakthrough happens not by waiting for the perfect moment, but by choosing to change in the midst of chaos.
