8.2: Dealing with Requests Discussion

What are your options when responding to a request for your time?

If you are like many people, you want to say “yes” to requests. But if you don’t have time, the request isn’t very feasible, or what is being asked of you isn’t a top priority, consider putting conditions on your “yes”s. For example, say “yes, I’ll review the proposal if you defer the report you wanted from me by another day.” Or “Yes, I’ll manage that project if you give me more resources to get my sustaining work done.”

What conditions might you put on your “yes”s to make work being requested more feasible or give you more time?

Studies of successful people find that most of their successes are the result of intense focus. Success usually doesn’t come from doing many things. It comes from doing a few things, or one thing, very well. As Warren Buffett said, “The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say “no” to almost everything.”

What might you stop doing, delegate to others, or say “no” to?

How well do you operate intentionally? (use your group average score from your SCOPE of Leadership 360 assessment if completed)

What will you stop doing, start doing, or keep doing to be more intentional? In what area do you need to develop to be able to operate intentionally? (add any new professional development objectives to your IDP)

Scenario: You have just become the leader of a new organization. The prior leader, whose position you have taken was a taskmaster type of leader. He told people what to do and how to do it. Over his tenure, people became programmed to turn their brains off and wait to be told what to do. You now have the unenviable responsibility of getting your team to turn their brains back on, become self-starters, and ultimately be able to achieve their goals with minimal direction and assistance.

Outline your plan to get people to operate proactively and intentionally: