Introduction: What You’ll Learn
This simulation helps you practice discussing workload boundaries with your manager. It's essential to advocate for a sustainable workload and maintain a healthy work-life balance. You'll learn to communicate your needs clearly and collaboratively find solutions.
You’ll practice:
- Preparing for a conversation about workload
- Clearly articulating your boundaries and concerns
- Collaborating on solutions to manage workload
- Maintaining professionalism and assertiveness
Step-by-Step Simulation
Scene 1: Preparing for the Meeting
(Before the meeting, you gather your thoughts on recent workload challenges and desired outcomes.)
You (thinking): "I’ve been working late most nights to keep up with deadlines. I need to talk to my manager about finding a more sustainable approach. I should note specific examples and suggest possible solutions."
(You jot down key points: recent projects, hours worked, and potential strategies like reprioritization, delegation, or adjusting project timelines.)
Scene 2: Opening the Conversation
You: "Hi [Manager's Name], can we chat about my current workload? I’ve been finding it tough to keep a good balance recently."
Manager: "Of course, I’m glad you brought this up. What’s been happening?"
You: "Well, I’ve been staying late a lot to meet project deadlines, like with the recent product launch and quarterly reports. I’m worried about the impact on my long-term productivity and personal life."
Scene 3: Articulating Boundaries and Concerns
Manager: "I see. Can you tell me more about which tasks are taking up most of your time?"
You: "The product launch needed a lot of testing and coordination, and the quarterly reports had tight deadlines. Balancing urgent stuff with ongoing commitments has been pretty challenging."
Manager: "That makes sense. Sounds like you’ve got a lot going on."
Scene 4: Collaborating on Solutions
You: "Exactly. I think we could look at reprioritizing some tasks or spreading some responsibilities across the team. Maybe we can adjust timelines where it makes sense?"
Manager: "That’s a good idea. Let’s go over the current project list and see where we can make some changes. I can also talk to the team about sharing some of these tasks."
You: "Thanks. It would also help to have clearer priorities and realistic timelines so I don’t feel overwhelmed."
Manager: "Absolutely. Let’s set a regular check-in to reassess and adjust priorities as needed."
Scene 5: Wrapping Up
You: "Thanks for being open to this discussion. I feel more confident about handling my workload with your support."
Manager: "Of course. Keeping a healthy balance is important. Let’s touch base next week to see how the new plan is going."
Mini Roleplay Challenges
Challenge 1: Your manager seems dismissive about your workload concerns.
- Best Response: “I know you have a lot to juggle as well. Can we dig into specific examples to address my workload more effectively?”
Challenge 2: Your manager suggests working longer hours to meet deadlines.
- Best Response: “I’m committed to meeting deadlines, but I’m worried about the long-term sustainability of that approach. Can we explore other strategies?”
Challenge 3: Your manager questions the need for reprioritization.
- Best Response: “Reprioritizing could help us focus on high-impact tasks without compromising quality or team well-being.”
Optional Curveball Mode
- Your manager gets interrupted by urgent calls during the meeting.
- Your manager suggests additional projects without acknowledging current workload.
- Your manager agrees to changes but doesn’t follow up.
Practice handling each one while maintaining focus on workload boundaries.
Reflection Checklist
Preparation
- Did I come prepared with specific examples and solutions?
- Did I clearly outline my workload concerns and boundaries?
Communication
- Did I maintain a respectful and assertive tone?
- Did I ensure the conversation was collaborative and constructive?
Follow-up
- Did we agree on clear next steps or follow-ups?
- Did I feel heard and supported by my manager?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not preparing specific examples or solutions
- Avoiding the conversation due to fear of conflict
- Failing to follow up on agreed actions
- Allowing the conversation to become confrontational