I was working with a client recently who faced crunch time at work. It was the same every year. She was responsible for the annual reports that went out at the end of March. She knew it was coming and she was ready when it hit.
She had one problem. You see while she understood the amount of work associated with the reports nobody else did. Sure they knew the reports were due but they all assumed that it was “business as usual” for her. They kept asking her about other things and bringing her new assignments. She felt cornered. She knew she needed to focus on the reports but all this other stuff… well… that was her job too!
We talked about this “problem” for a while. She was struggling to manage all of her responsibilities. How could she do everything? How would she manage her time? She knew her main focus needed to be the reports but what about everything else? She didn’t feel right not doing them or leaving her colleagues hanging or waiting for her.
What she ultimately decided to do was consciously make agreements to delay the incoming work off until after reporting season was. Whenever someone approached her with work she told them that she was in the middle of annual reports and that she was not able to shift her focus at this time. They could wait until a mutually agreeable time or manage on their own.
The first person she told this to was her boss and he supported her without question. Together they picked a time AFTER the reports were due to meet and discuss the new subject.
By speaking up she was showing everyone that she respected them and the assignments that they brought her…most importantly she respected herself.
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