Superpower: Admitting you can’t do everything — Issue #25
Before we dig into this week’s topic, I just wanted to apologise to followers of this newsletter. I skipped 2 weeks because of a need to focus on other priorities, both professionally and personally, which inspired this week’s topic.
Over the next months, I’ll occasionally share what I think are superpowers in today’s tech and product world.
I believe I touched briefly on this topic in an earlier newsletter, but as I mentioned in the beginning, I felt it needed more attention because it seems to be overlooked too easily.
Maybe you started a new job or new department and you want to prove your worth. Maybe you’ve been working at a high rhythm for a while and have made it a habit. You’ve said yes to too much or created a scope that is too large, or you’re just super active across communities, hobbies or friend circles.
It’s indifferent how you get there, but most of us have reached a point where we have too many plates to juggle.
At this point we have only two real options:
- Try and juggle it all and hope we can make it
- Focus on what matters and drop the rest (temporarily at least)
Both options have pros and cons, but ultimately one of them reaps better rewards.
#1 — Try and juggle it all and hope we can make it
This is the one that may seem like the easier option, because you feel like you don’t let anyone down and you are able to show your “worth” across multiple fronts.
At first it will also maintain all involved happy and content.
In the long run, this option will quickly go sour when you are unable to deliver on everything asked and everything expected/promised.
The work will also be sub-par.
Most importantly, it will affect your health and well being as well as your relationships. Both personal and professional.
Anyone who suggest that this option is doable and maintainable is delusional.
#2 — F ocus on what matters and drop the rest
At first, this option is the hardest, because you will need to have uncomfortable conversations and let people down.
However, on the flip side, is it better to let some people down or everybody?
Is it better to create quality work and build strong relationships with some now, and then build up the rest when you can focus on that?
In my opinion I would say it’s always better to have quality over quantity.
I would also risk saying that when relationships and opportunities you turn down today don’t react well, they were probably not worth the attention any way, because they would ultimately be more prone to abuse.
But that last statement isn’t as black and white as I made it, but still viable in many cases.
Be honest
I feel like “Being Honest” is probably one of the points I bring up the most and is something I try to stick to.
I don’t mean just being honest to others about what you can and can’t do, it’s about being honest to yourself.
Example:
Let’s say you’re defining the OKRs for the next quarter. You feel this quarter you dropped the ball and weren’t able to achieve all the OKRs you set out to achieve.
So for the next quarter, maybe you won’t be as ambitious in the metrics you lay out, but you want to show you’re capable and competent. So you pile up a great list of OKRs that will wow everyone with what you’re going to focus on.
I’ve found that often the issue isn’t the objective that was too ambitious, but rather the quantity of objectives.
I’ve seen many ignore the fact that they could never deliver on 3 Objectives and 3 KR for each of those objectives in the past, yet they believe the next quarter is going to be different?
Be honest, admit that less makes sense, rather than always feeling you’re unable to deliver.
It’s okay to admit you can’t do it all
At the end of the day, it’s okay to admit that it’s all too much. It generally is, and unless you are one of those rare people that are able to get by on 3 hours of sleep and live on air itself, you will burn yourself out.
Don’t pay attention to all those books, posts etc. on the advantages of waking up at 5am or stating that it’s all a matter of being organised.
Every single person is different. Everybody has a moment where they will feel tired, unmotivated or overloaded.
Yes, maybe you could be a bit more organised or structured, but only to a certain point.
Sometimes you just need to learn to say NO!
Feel like all your colleagues are reading more articles and technical books than you? Don’t feel pressured. Take as long as you want or take some time off from technical content. Sometimes we need that breather.
Haven’t been able to spend time with the family? Make time. Your priority NOs should be going to your work, not your family.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day it’s just about protecting yourself and your sanity.
In my experience, I’ve found that as long as you lay down your own working guidelines, you avoid others abusing your time.
It’s hard at first, but generally people will grow to respect you when you push back, because they know that if their need was a priority, you would do the same with other’s needs.
At the end of the day, your time and wellbeing become as valuable as others needs.
It’s a balancing act and I’ve only met a hand full of people who can do it well all the time, but do your best.
It’s okay to admit you’re not perfect and can’t do everything.
Originally published at https://www.getrevue.co on July 20, 2022.
