Don't be a pushover
There is a feeling amongst young professionals today that saying no will put a dent on their credibility," says Rohini Verma, a practising clinical psychologist.
"But it is actually the other way around. People respect those who are assertive and confident," she says.
Taking on that added workload could make you prone to missing prior deadlines. For example, taking on a new project while you are struggling to finish the old one on time can backfire.
The key is to under-promise and over-perform and not the other way around.
Do not allow yourself to be pressured into taking on unacceptable workloads, even if it happens to be from your boss. Sometimes you must say 'no'; just remember to be polite and assertive when doing so.
Here are some ways in which you can be diplomatic and assertive.
Can you have someone take this up so I can concentrate 100 per cent on the last assignment you gave me?
I would love to take this assignment; however, I am in between a few other commitments.
Can you arrange for someone to help me with the other tasks?
This will ensure the ball is in your boss's court; let him/ her work it out for you.
In terms of priority, it makes sense to decline low value tasks.
If you are in sales, don't get bogged down by paperwork and administrative duties. Keep these low value tasks to a minimum and take on those where you will add maximum value.
Be realistic
Being realistic does not mean taking it easy; it means taking on more 'do'able tasks, keeping your current circumstances in mind.
Break your goals down to the lowest common denominator (be practical when doing this).
For example: You may set a goal to be the top sales person in your company for the month, but it makes more sense to break it into weekly targets, rather than daily targets. This way you will have the flexibility to change the weekly target based on your day-to-day performance.
Use the SMART goals technique: This means your goals should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Tangible.
Specific: Have a concrete goal. There is no room for guesswork here. Wanting a job which pays you 'X' amount of money is being specific rather than 'just wanting a job that pays well'.
Measurable: You should be able to track your advancement by hours, rupees, etc, so that you know how you are measuring up as you progress.
Attainable: It is detrimental to set the mark so high that you set yourself up for failure. If you are a new employee and want to get into a senior management role within six months, you probably know it is not attainable.
Realistic: Goals are realistic when your background, upbringing, personality, skill set, experience, and environment are conducive to achieve them. They are unrealistic, in order to achieve your goals, you need something you do not possess.
Time bound: Set deadlines for yourself, so you will be driven to finish the task. Without a time limit, there is no urgency to act.
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