Marcel N

“Here’s how to advise your executive and negotiate the workload: Keep a list of everything your boss asks for. Keep a list of the top strategic priorities you are working on. Have regular meetings with your boss where you take out these lists. Make recommendations about what to prioritize, based on the context of business and the content of these two lists. When you show your boss these lists, several things happen: He gets embarrassed, as he hadn’t realized he had asked for so many things. When he sees it spelled out right there in front of him, he can see it’s unreasonable. You win lots of credibility for keeping the list, catching everything, and not dropping anything. You make him comfortable that you’ve got it covered. He trusts you. You can ask him “Is this still important?” You will find he has forgotten about several of the requests and has decided that others don’t matter anymore. You will realize that you are not beholden to everything on the list! You will be able to negotiate time lines and suggest priorities.”
― Patty Azzarello, Rise: 3 Practical Steps for Advancing Your Career, Standing Out as a Leader, and Liking Your Life

“The public sharing of “injustices” garners far more attention and emotional outpouring than most other events on social media, rewarding people who are able to perpetually feel victimized with ever-growing amounts of attention and sympathy.”
― Mark Manson, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

“you instead want to start with something positive, rather than something negative. Like this: Start with warmth. First, acknowledge and show appreciation for the person’s request. Your “yes.” Then, instead of starting with “I’m sorry…,” begin by enthusiastically highlighting whatever your positive priority is right now, and why it’s interesting, important, or meaningful to you. Consider picking out a reason that will also resonate with the person you’re talking to. Your “no.” Explain that this means, with regret, that you can’t do the thing they’ve asked you to do. End with warmth. Perhaps there’s a suggestion or offer you can make without detracting from your real priorities, such as an introduction to other people who could help. At the very least, offer some warm wishes for success in their project. It’s an important closing sentence that often gets dropped when we’re focused on our own discomfort at saying no.”
― Caroline Webb, How to Have a Good Day: Harness the Power of Behavioral Science to Transform Your Working Life

“Victimhood chic” is in style on both the right and the left today, among both the rich and the poor. In fact, this may be the first time in human history that every single demographic group has felt unfairly victimized simultaneously.”
― Mark Manson, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life