Breaking the Cycle of Overcommitment

Breaking the Cycle of Overcommitment

Last week’s complimentary webinar on Overcommitment, the cycle, hidden costs, and how to break free contained tangible strategies and was well-timed for the upcoming holidays.

We reviewed the “Before Saying Yes” Checklist that works for your commitments and your team’s or organization’s.

·      Do I have a clear understanding of the time requirements? In other words, do I fully understand the request to assess how long it will take to complete?

·      Have I checked my calendar for conflicts? I have also started blocking work time to complete requests, which will help me determine a feasible completion date.

·      Can I maintain the quality of my existing commitments?

·      Do I have the necessary resources?

·      Have I built in buffer time?

·      Is this aligned with current priorities?

We also discussed other options to respond beside Yes and No:

The Counteroffer“I can’t make a committed Yes to what you asked, but I can do this instead.” Perhaps it’s an extension to the requested completion date or a change in scope.

A Date for a Date:I need more time to make a trustworthy commitment. I’ll get back to you in 24 hours”. In this situation, you need more information, or you might need to consult with others. This doesn’t mean you come back with a yes; it means you will come back with a trustworthy answer, which could be yes, no, a counteroffer, or another date for a date. The key is to follow up in the timeframe you’ve committed.

The benefit of giving trustworthy commitments upfront is to generate the conversations then, not in the 11th hour before something is due and there’s a much bigger crisis. Utilizing the “Before Saying Yes” checklist, the Counteroffer, and the Date for a Date opens new conversations to negotiate and align on the path forward. It also allows us to maintain capacity.

Will you give it a try? I’d love to hear how this resonates with you and how your practice goes. Are you interested in further discussion? Perhaps a workshop with your team or organization? Reach out, and let’s talk!

 Enjoy the holiday season with trustworthy commitments!

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