Over Promising

It’s happened to the best of us. We begin to figure out our alpha bosses. We understand that they have an intense sense of urgency and high expectations for themselves and their subordinates. So what do we do? We begin to over promise. We think, “My alpha boss dreams big, sets lofty goals, expects great work, I’m going to come through on all of it.” Determinedly, we set out to show him that we are competent, trustworthy, dedicated and skilled members of his team. But what happens? We get overwhelmed. We’ve over promised, set the bar of our own expectations too high and said yes to too many of his requests without keeping the reality of our own limitations in mind.

Little things begin falling through the cracks. Pulling an all-nighter to deliver the cost analysis your boss asked you to complete by Friday morning is the only option left. You’ve gotten started on the other projects, but nothing is near completion and the level of work isn’t up to par either. The item your boss really needed from you and depended upon you to deliver is sorely lacking your careful and keen attention to detail.

This is typical for women who begin to get the hang of working for an alpha or women who begin to understand the nuance of personality, style and type. We want to impress, maximize our effectiveness and show them our value. But what value are you to your alpha boss if you cannot even complete one of the items he’s asked you to do? The answer is you become more of a dead weight, a source of disappointment and irritation. It is okay to say, “I’m not sure I will be able to handle all of that. Would it be okay if we could agree on a timeline for completion that we’re both comfortable with?” Or you could say, “I am committed to serving the team’s goals by taking on these projects but I know the amount of time and attention each is going to require and I’m not sure I’m going to deliver the level of excellence you desire. Is it possible for us to agree on a priority level for each of these projects?” Your alpha boss will appreciate your candor and your desire to complete the projects he’s vested in. Remember it’s okay to say no but make sure you have an alternative solution that makes it sound like a yes.