From Overwhelm to Flow—Essentialism in Impact Networks

It starts the same way for so many of us:

You step into a network weaving, facilitation, or coordination role because you believe in the power of relationships, collaboration, and systemic change. 

You know that networks are essential for tackling the world’s biggest challenges—climate justice, equity, regenerative economies, and more.

But somewhere along the way, the work becomes overwhelming.

• Your inbox fills with urgent messages.

• You jump between Slack threads and back-to-back Zoom calls.

• You hold space for countless working groups with little momentum.

Every initiative feels important, yet real movement is slow.

You tell yourself:

“If I just work harder, respond faster, say yes to one more thing, maybe we’ll get there.”

But instead of moving forward, the network feels stuck in busyness without clarity.

And here’s the paradox:

The harder we work, the more exhausted we become—but the less systemic impact we might actually create.

This is where Essentialism comes in.

The Discipline of Essentialism: Less, But Better

Essentialism is actually not a modern framework.

It has deep roots in Indigenous and Global South philosophies:

For example, Buen Vivir philosophy from Latin America focuses on pursuing well-being in harmony with people and nature, rather than relentless growth.

Or Wu Wei as part of Taoism from China as the art of effortless action—allowing systems to move naturally rather than forcing outcomes.

These traditions remind us:

Life is not just about efficiency as modern capitalism proposes.

It’s about alignment, wisdom, and right relationship.

When we apply this to impact networks, we move beyond urgency-driven activism toward regenerative, strategic movement-building.

In the last decade, Greg McKeown’s work on essentialism has gained traction.

He defines essentialism as "the disciplined pursuit of less, but better." 

It’s the practice of stripping away the non-essential, focusing on the few things that truly matter.

While Essentialism has been widely applied to individual productivity, it also has profound implications for collaboration.

Most impact networks operate in non-essentialist ways:

Spreading resources too thin, engaging too many priorities, and burning out facilitators.

What if we embraced essentialism not just as a personal practice, but as a collective strategy?

What if we worked in alignment instead of exhaustion?

Essentialist Shifts for Impact Networks

To see how this plays out in practice, let’s contrast non-essentialist vs. essentialist approaches to network strategy:

To move from overwhelm to flow, networks can practice three essentialist shifts:

1. Trade-offs are inevitable.

2. Discernment is our superpower.

3. Effortless action emerges from trust and systems. 

Let’s explore these one-by-one!

There’s always more to do than there is capacity to do it.

At any given moment, there are new initiatives forming, collaborations emerging, and urgent systemic challenges demanding attention.

In the name of inclusivity and responsiveness, networks often say yes to everything—new projects, new partnerships, new working groups.

But there’s a hard truth here:

We can’t do it all. 

Neither as individuals nor as networks.

And the more we try, the less impact we actually create.

Because, when we fail to make trade-offs consciously, we make them unconsciously.

Essentialism teaches us that trade-offs are inevitable. 

The question is:

Do we let them happen randomly, or do we make them with intention?

Rather than framing trade-offs as losses, we need to see them as powerful strategic decisions that free us to focus on what matters most.

How to Apply Trade-offs in Your Work

✅ For Individuals:

• Instead of asking “Can I do this?” ask “What will I have to trade off to do this well?”

• Define your essential contribution. Focus on that, and let go of what doesn’t align.

• Set non-negotiable boundaries around your time and capacity.

✅ For Networks:

• Shift from “maximum participation” to “strategic engagement.” Not everyone needs to be in every conversation.

• Explicitly name what your network is NOT focusing on. Having clear non-priorities prevents energy from being scattered.

• Use the “vital few” test: Before taking on new initiatives, ask:

  1. Does this align with our core purpose?

  2. Does this have systemic leverage?

  3. Do we have the capacity to execute it well?

By making intentional trade-offs, we free up energy, attention, and resources for what truly moves the system.

But, how do we know what’s worth saying yes to?

That’s where discernment comes in.

If trade-offs help us create space, discernment helps us fill it wisely.

Once we accept that we can’t do everything, the next question becomes:

What is most essential?

Not all actions are equal.

Some efforts create outsized impact, while others drain energy.

Discernment is the ability to recognize the few leverage points that create the greatest systemic shifts.

Greg McKeown calls this "the vital few over the trivial many."

Instead of trying to push everything forward, networks must identify the one or two interventions that will unlock impact.

How to Apply Discernment in Your Work

✅For Individuals:

• Pause before committing. Instead of saying "yes" reflexively, ask:

  • Is this the highest use of my energy?

  • If I say yes, what am I saying no to?

• Identify your leverage point. What’s the one role or contribution where your impact is greatest? Double down on that.

• Use the “Hell Yes or No” filter. If it’s not a clear yes, it’s a no.

✅ For Networks:

• Use Leverage Point Mapping. Instead of trying to fix everything, identify one or two systemic levers that unlock change across multiple areas.

• Apply the 80/20 Rule. Ask: Which 20% of our efforts are creating 80% of our impact?

• Make prioritization explicit. Networks should regularly pause to reflect on what’s truly moving the system—and adjust focus accordingly.

When we practice discernment, we don’t just create focus—we create momentum.

Now comes the final shift:

How do we move from effortful, exhausting work to systems that enable flow?

This is the difference between a network that constantly needs pushing.

Vs.

A network where people step into action naturally.

Many impact networks suffer from chronic over-coordination.

At the individual level, facilitators feel like they are constantly chasing people for responses, reminding them to engage, and over-managing participation.

Without their effort, things stall.

For them, it feels heavy.

At the network level, meetings pile up. Decisions require too much back-and-forth. There’s an underlying fear that if structure isn’t imposed, nothing will happen.

But instead of supporting momentum, this creates dependency on a few key people to hold everything together.

The problem?

Over-coordination doesn’t create movement—it creates friction.

And when networks rely on effort rather than trust and systems, they burn out.

In Effortless, McKeown describes a simple but powerful shift:

Make things easier, not harder.

Instead of constantly pushing, essentialists design environments where the right action happens naturally.

For individuals, this means eliminating friction—creating habits, simplifying commitments, and designing workflows that make the right choices the easiest ones.

For networks, this means designing for self-organization and trust so that work happens without constant intervention.

How to Design for Flow Instead of Force

✅ For Individuals:

• Create structured time blocks for deep work so you’re not reactive.

• Automate or batch small repetitive tasks so your mental energy is freed.

• Reduce unnecessary decision fatigue by creating clear criteria.

 ✅ For Networks:

• Shift from Over-Meetings to Asynchronous Clarity: Can a shared document or simple check-in replace a full call?

• Use Lightweight Coordination Tools: Instead of endless email threads, use tools like Notion, Miro, or Slack to create shared visibility without effortful updates.

• Build Trust-Based Leadership, Not Control-Based Management: The more people feel trusted, the more they naturally take responsibility.

Bringing Essentialism into Your Work

Let’s step back:

1. Trade-offs clear space → Without this, networks remain stuck in overwhelm.

2. Discernment focuses energy → Without this, networks scatter their efforts.

3. Effortless action removes friction → Without this, networks rely on exhausting coordination.

Essentialism isn’t just about doing less.

It’s about making space, focusing on what matters, and designing for ease.

And this applies at both the personal level (how we navigate our own role) and the network level (how we shape collective action).

To integrate this into your work, ask yourself:

✅ What’s one trade-off I need to make to free up energy?
✅ Where is my (or our network’s) biggest leverage point for impact?
✅ What friction can we remove to make action easier and more natural?

Because ultimately, the most impactful networks aren’t the ones that work the hardest.

They’re the ones that work the clearest, the most focused, and the most effortlessly.

About the Systemic Shift Newsletter

A weekly newsletter dedicated to exploring the practices, mindsets, and strategies that make networks effective in driving systemic change. Each issue offers practical tools, real-world lessons, and curated opportunities to help you build impactful, collaborative movements.

About the Author

Adrian builds the capacity of impact networks & regenerative leaders to amplify systemic change. Follow him on LinkedIn for more content or explore how to work with him 1-1 here.

Dive Deeper

Here's a curated list of resources exploring essentialism, effortless action, and related philosophies from both Global North and Global South perspectives:

1. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
   Author: Greg McKeown
   This book introduces the concept of essentialism, emphasizing the importance of focusing on what truly matters and eliminating the non-essential.

2. Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most
   Author: Greg McKeown
   A follow-up to "Essentialism," this book provides strategies to achieve essential tasks with less effort, promoting sustainable productivity.

3. Buen Vivir: An Alternative Perspective from the Peoples of the Global South to the Crisis of Capitalist Modernity
   Authors: Alberto Acosta and Mateo Martínez Abarca
   This chapter explores the concept of Buen Vivir, rooted in Indigenous philosophies of Latin America, proposing it as an alternative to capitalist modernity.

4. Review of the Concept of Wu Wei (无为): Its Relationship with Taoism's Political Conception and Current Anarchism
   Author: Juan Manuel Sabogal-Salamanca
   This article reviews the Taoist concept of Wu Wei and explores its connections to political philosophy and contemporary interpretations.

5. Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System
   Author: Donella Meadows
   An influential article discussing strategic points within a system where small changes can lead to significant impacts, aligning with the principle of focused action.

6. Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered
   Author: E.F. Schumacher
   A seminal work advocating for sustainable development and the idea that smaller, appropriate technologies and policies lead to better outcomes.

7. The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential
   Author: Leo Babauta
   This book offers practical advice on simplifying life by focusing on essential tasks and eliminating the unnecessary.