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Just say no. Your clients happiness is not as important as your health. You only get one life. No do-overs.
My doctor chewed me out about not managing stress from work better. When i told him how much i work he said cut it down or die.
Yes
It doesn’t matter how much work you do, there will always be more. Do you think your clients work as hard as you do? They are likely pushing because they know you’ll get it done. Start to set realistic deadlines for deliverables but with a positive spin - “Sure, I’m happy to do that for you. I can have it to you by X date/time.” If they throw a fit then escalate
if they don't fully understand then you need to do more upwards managing. it is part of your job even if nobody's told you that. unrealistic expectations do not get set in stone just because they are the client
Asks come directly from clients so I can’t say no. Most of the time I can’t delegate because I would need to spend 2-3x as long explaining and reviewing (I know this time needs to be spent to grow the team but it feels like there is just no time in the day). 😣
what do you mean you're not in a financial position to take time off? we get paid time off.
Thanks EY1, I’m going to look into that. It’s crossed my mind but I keep thinking i’ll get by - perhaps I can but it’s not worth it
Seriously you need to stop thinking as if you’re THE only person who can do the job. I’m not saying it to spite but sometimes you need to pause and reflect on your life. What if you get run over by a bus (touch wood) on your way home, do you think the client will go out of business? It would only be a slight inconvenience to them and they’ll find a replacement in no time. Take care of yourself first. Pushing back isn’t weakness and it doesn’t mean that you’re rude. It means that you know your priority and ppl will respect you for that. I would.
You are 100% correct.
I would probably just tell my client that given they’ve asked for X, Y, and Z that are all due in the next week, I’m not able to take on this additional item unless they want to revisit and adjust the other deadlines. Most of the time, meetings can be moved and timelines are more fluid than people let on.
you don't need to figure it out by yourself either. talk to your manager (or P if the M isn't helpful) and your PD coach. be very direct. don't sugar coat it or downplay it.
They’re all aware but you’re right, I need to be very direct now. Thanks 🙏🏼
Take time out for yourself, regardless of where the direction comes from. Nothing is more important than health wellbeing and family
yea, so cut down. dying from your job is no badge of honor. you do not live to work. take time for yourself. the job will do what it will, and if it forces you to find a new job, so be it. won't sound like you'll miss it
Hey OP - I was definitely in a similar situation last year. I second a lot of what was said here. You need to start setting clear boundaries. If they are asking for something with a short turnaround time, don’t just say yes - ask what aspects are critical vs. nice to have. And make it clear that given the short turnaround time, you won’t be able to complete everything, but will prioritize the most crucial elements. You have to start setting boundaries if you want their actions to change.
Also - I know it can seem like doing it yourself is the easier approach (I’ve been there), but investing in others is a gamechanger. I now have strong teams that can execute with a bit of guidance. The investment was worth it for me.