When we think about all the various ways we can say yes or no to a request, I sometimes find it helpful to think about it in the following way: We can do anything, but we can’t do everything.
It’s easy to say yes to any request, and end up overwhelmed. It’s equally as easy to say no, due to existing commitments, constraints we feel are currently in play, and other limiting factors.
If we open ourselves to doing anything, but not everything, then we can make sure we’re doing the overall most important thing. It cuts away those constraints of what we’re already doing, and it means that we’re also making sure we’re not just saying yes to dump something else on the pile.
When we’re clear we can’t do everything, we can make sure we’re bringing focus, and setting ourselves up to succeed. It balances the “can you just” type conversation, where we try to add more on to the pile, it protects you from “it should be easy”, and “it’ll be quick as well”. You can talk about the big ambitious highly important thing instead, and then set-out some clear trade-offs and decisions to make.
By being open to doing anything we break out of the limits of today. By being clear we can’t do everything, we give focus to be successful in achieving that big important goal.
Give it a go and see how it feels!
James Osborn 