I was able to say “No” and negotiate my workload for the first time!

Recently, one of my coaching clients shared how she shifted from simply accepting work assignments to prove herself to now negotiating workload actively.
Not only has it improved her physical and mental health, it has also made her a better supervisor, a more confident contributor and a profiled leader in the eyes of her organization.

Here is what she told me:

‘During a recent restructuring process, I noticed that my name was all over the new work plan while other colleagues were assigned fewer tasks. This time it was time to say “No” and negotiate the workload. I raised my hand and politely asked to relook at the work distribution to make it fairer.

In a similar setting a few months earlier, I would have accepted all the tasks without negotiating the workload - for the sake of proving that I can work under pressure and that I have the skills and capacities even if this will affect my physical and mental health.

This time I was able to say “No” for the first time. I had gained full trust of my skills and capacities. I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone anymore by taking on extra workload.
I am now well aware that nothing is worth jeopardizing my health.
I understood that being loyal and committed to work doesn’t mean to kill yourself and not take care of your physical and mental health.

As a leader to my team, I want to be present, provide support and be a good role model for them - burning out will be the most inefficient scenario for myself, my team and the organization.

I feel very proud of myself for being able to take this first step!
I feel more confident, powerful and most importantly blessed, as those coaching sessions came at the time where I was most in need for them, they came at a time when I was “burning myself out”; I feel that coaching was God’s way of responding to my need.’