Negotiating Workload Limits
Have you ever come out of your boss’s office feeling low because you have just accepted a load of additional work you didn’t want? If this strikes a chord in you, don’t feel too bad because you are not alone. Recent research from Joseph Grenny and Cynthia Good showed that women find it difficult to discuss and resolve issues relating to their workload limits. In fact, the inability to negotiate workload limits is one of the main causes for 1 in 5 women to leave their jobs.
Joseph Grenny is a leadership expert and best-selling author while Cynthia Good, is the CEO and founding editor of the top women's business website, Little PINK Book. Grenny has suggested specific actions that women need to take to be able to negotiate better terms for themselves.
In my experience as a management consultant and executive coach for several decades, I feel the most important aspects that women in such positions need to reflect on are:
1. How Much Is Too Much? No one can be more aware than you as to how much you can stretch without paying too high a prize.
2. Is It Worth It? Sometimes you do need to go all out and do much more than is ordinarily required, but if you have to stretch yourself day in and day out, you might like to ask yourself, if it is worth it
3. Negotiating Skills Can Be Acquired: The good news is that negotiating skills, like any other skill, can be acquired. Don’t be defeatist and say you cannot do it, without giving it a try. Being assertive on the job, including with your boss, is a crucial for success skill these days.
So the next time you feel you are being tasked to do, more than you should, reflect on these points and decide what you should do, so that you don't end up feeling like a loser.
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