December 01, 2025

The 12 Days of Leadership - Stop the Whirlwind: How to Shift From Firefighting to Proactive Leadership (Day 1 - The 12 Days of Leadership)

12 minutes

Day 1 of the 12 Days of Leadership

Stop the Whirlwind: How to Shift From Firefighting to Proactive Leadership (Day 1 of the 12 Days of Leadership)

Are you stuck in constant firefighting mode — reacting to problems, racing through your day, and feeling like you’re always one step behind? You’re not alone. In today’s episode, we kick off the 12 Days of Leadership series with one of the most requested topics inside the Get Organized at Work Podcast Community: how to shift from reactive to proactive leadership.

We’ll unpack why high-achieving professionals, new managers, directors, and overwhelmed leaders often fall into the whirlwind — and how to break free with simple proactive systems that keep you focused, organized, and calm. If you’ve been wanting more consistency, better prioritization, improved time management, or a path out of daily chaos, this episode will help you reset your mindset and your workflow.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

✔ Why reactive leadership is draining your energy (and confidence)

✔ How to step out of the daily whirlwind and into strategic, intentional leadership

✔ The mindset shift that helps you stop firefighting and plan your work with clarity

✔ The first proactive habits to build if you want less stress and better results

✔ The leadership identity upgrade that sets the tone for the next 11 days of the series

Whether you're a new manager trying to stay organized, a director juggling multiple priorities, or a leader who wants to think bigger and stop drowning in tasks, this episode gives you the foundation for a more grounded, proactive leadership style.

This episode is perfect for:

🔹 Leaders feeling overwhelmed or constantly “putting out fires”

🔹 Professionals wanting better organization, focus, and consistency

🔹 Anyone craving less chaos and more intentional planning

🔹 Leaders ready to shift from task-doer to strategic thinker

🔹 High performers who want better workflow, energy management & balance

✨ Join the Get Organized at Work Podcast Community for deeper conversations, leadership support, and daily inspiration during the 12 Days of Leadership. Linked here ➡️📱Join My Free Podcast Community for Professionals

✨ Enrollment for The Organized Leader Sprint opens today, 12/1/25! If you want a plug-and-play system to help you stay organized, consistent, and proactive in 2026, this is your sign to join the next round.

Let’s shift you out of the whirlwind and into the clear, confident leadership era you deserve.

Learn more information here and grab your spot (we start on 1/13/26) - https://www.kfaconsulting.org/sprint

NMDP Fundraiser:

Donate to my NMDP Fundraiser as I run the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in June 2026 during Grandma's Marathon Weekend: https://fundraise.nmdp.org/participants/Kayla-Fahey-Ahrndt

🎧 Listen now and start Day 1 strong!

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Donate to my NMDP Fundraiser as I run the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in June 2026 during Grandma's Marathon Weekend: https://fundraise.nmdp.org/participants/Kayla-Fahey-Ahrndt

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By Kayla Fahey-Ahrndt | MPH, MLS (ASCP) SBB, Laboratory Manager, Healthcare Leader, Scientist

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