Expectations story: When do you set expectations?

Expectations story: When do you set expectations?

It took me nearly 40 years to recognize that I suffer from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). In my professional life, I tend to jump at the first opportunity that comes my way. During my tenure at ZS, I spent two years working exclusively on one project as a Consultant. This project involved hands-on work and client management.

However, I was then assigned another project. After six months of juggling both projects, I found it challenging to meet the demands of the second project. The other project manager candidly expressed dissatisfaction with the level of support I provided.

After consulting with my colleagues, I was informed that the solution is straightforward. When taking on a new project, set clear expectations with the project manager from the outset, that you can only offer limited support due to existing commitments. I didn’t do this because I feared that the project might go away if I had such a candid discussion at the start. 

Set clear expectations at the start, even if it means potentially losing the opportunity.

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Read past stories like above at https://lnkd.in/d9ijze8r