Roleplay Scenario
Scenario Overview
Lately, you've been handling more responsibilities than your role was originally meant to include. While you’re eager to help out, the workload is getting tough to manage and affecting your work-life balance. It's time to talk with your manager about what’s realistic and set some boundaries.
The goal: Have an open chat where you show your dedication to the team but also ensure you’re not overextending yourself.
Roles & Setup
Role A – Employee (You)
You’re feeling the pinch from an increasing workload and need to set some boundaries.
Your goal: Communicate your concerns and agree on realistic role expectations.
Role B – Manager
You’ve been assigning tasks to meet team needs, but may not have noticed individual capacity limits.
Your goal: Understand the workload better and ensure tasks are fairly distributed.
Suggested Openers
Employee:
- “Could we talk about my workload for a minute? I’ve taken on several new tasks, and I want to make sure I’m focusing on the right priorities.”
- “I was hoping we could discuss my responsibilities. With all the recent additions, I want to make sure I’m not overcommitting.”
Manager:
- “Of course, let’s go over what you’re working on. I want to ensure we’re not overloading you.”
- “Sure, let’s take a look at your current tasks. Thanks for bringing this up.”
Sample Roleplay in Action
Employee:
“I wanted to talk about my workload. Recently, I’ve been juggling the new client project along with extra support requests. I’m concerned about keeping up with everything and maintaining quality.”
Manager:
“Thanks for mentioning this. I realize you’ve been handling a lot lately. Can you share where you’re feeling the most pressure?”
Employee:
“The tight deadlines on the client project and the uptick in support tasks are challenging. I want to do a good job, but I’m worried about spreading myself too thin.”
Manager:
“I get it. Let’s go through these tasks and see if we can shuffle things around or push some deadlines to make it more manageable.”
Employee:
“That would be really helpful. Focusing on the most critical parts of the client project first and maybe delegating some support tasks could work.”
Manager:
“Sounds good. We’ll set up some priorities and see what can be delegated or rescheduled. Let’s also have weekly check-ins to keep track of your workload.”
Employee:
“Thank you, I appreciate your support. I’ll keep you posted, and let’s catch up next week on how things are going.”
Manager:
“Sure thing. Your well-being and the quality of your work are important to me. Let’s keep the lines of communication open.”
Post-Scenario Tools
Curveball Mode (Optional)
Throw in one of these during the roleplay to see how participants handle unexpected challenges:
- Manager suggests the workload will ease soon without concrete plans.
- You find it hard to express boundaries without feeling guilty.
- An unexpected urgent project pops up during your conversation.
Reflection Checklist
As the Employee:
- Did you clearly express your concerns without sounding negative?
- Did you propose specific solutions or adjustments?
- Did you communicate your dedication to the team while setting boundaries?
As the Manager:
- Did you listen actively and acknowledge the employee’s concerns?
- Did you offer to review task assignments or priorities?
- Did you ensure the conversation was constructive and supportive?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Letting the conversation become defensive or confrontational
- Agreeing to everything without considering personal limits
- Not following up on agreed actions or check-ins
Pro Tip
Approaching these discussions with honesty and a problem-solving attitude builds trust and helps maintain a healthy work environment. Regularly checking in on workload expectations can prevent future issues.