The professional reality for most is this: As much as you love your job, chances are your workplace is understaffed, so you’re doing the work of more than one person. As tempting as it may seem at times to grow and show off your skills, you often end up feeling overwhelmed and overworked.

How can you solve this problem?

With honesty. Talk to your boss openly about how you feel and work together to find a solution that works for both sides. Sure, the mere thought of asking your boss to reduce the work you’ve undertaken is embarrassing, but in reality it’s the best way to get rid of unnecessary stress and the risk of burnout.

How to have this “difficult” conversation?

  • Consult a colleague

“Before approaching your boss, discuss with a trusted colleague whether you could split the work so that no one is overburdened. If, however, there is no such leeway, because everyone is overworked, then you know for sure that it is time to talk to your boss,” suggest the experts.

  • Schedule an appointment to ensure that this conversation has the right space and time to take place

Making an appointment with your boss is the best way to ensure that this conversation happens. You will also give yourself time to think and perhaps write down everything you would like to say. “Make sure you express clearly what you want,” advise the experts. You can also make a list of all your obligations and the available schedule. This will help you frame the problem in mathematical terms, a way that has non-negotiable effectiveness.

  • Think of alternatives in advance and be open to suggestions

“Presenting alternative solutions will not only help to solve the problem more immediately, but it will show your boss that you are interested in solving the problem and not just getting rid of excessive responsibilities,” say experts.

Some possible solutions include:
Extension of deadlines: “Could some tasks be completed later?”
Resource Utilization: “Are there resources that would help get the job done faster or more efficiently?”
Automation: “Could any of the tasks be automated or performed less frequently?”
Delegate to someone else: “Can certain tasks be delegated to other colleagues?”.

  • Try to ensure that the solution will be permanent and that you will not overburden yourself again in the future

The fact that you once reached your limits is perhaps a good lesson so that you set better limits in the future. “The next time your boss or a colleague asks you to take on a new task, think about how much time you need and be honest about it. If you feel that not everything can be achieved at the same time, ask which obligations should be prioritized”, suggest the experts. “Clear explanations will help you manage your time better and build more honest relationships with your partners, regarding the context of completing tasks,” they conclude.