• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Sources of Insight

Better Insights, Better Results

  • About
  • Articles
  • Learn
    • Future Self
    • Personal Development
    • Leadership
    • Emotional Intelligence
    • Mental Health
    • All Topics
  • Resources
    • Biases Library
    • Best Books
    • Book Summaries
    • Great Quotes
    • Greatness Distilled
    • Product Reviews
    • All Resources
  • Products
  • Contact

Balance Your Needs and Responding to Requests

by JD

image“I see a world on the edge of a blade. Without balance, it will fall.” — Victoria Aveyard

Balance taking care of your own needs and responding to requests. 

If you can’t take care of yourself, then you can’t take care of other people. 

The more effective you are, the more you can effectively help others.  The more you help others, the more they’ll help you. 

Say “No” More Effectively

Manage your plate effectively.  

You are in the best position to know what’s on your plate.  Biting off more than you can chew lets yourself down and lets others down, as you drop the ball here and there.

Don’t let yourself down.  Instead, say no more effectively.  For example, if you’re plate is full, say you’ll take it on, only if they can take something off or help you reduce your plate. If it’s not a win-win, look for the non-obvious win-win.  

In Influence Without Authority (2nd Edition), Allan Cohen and David Bradford write about balancing your needs with the requests of others.

Be More Collaborative and Helpful Than Everyone Else

You can compete without being competitive.  Be more collaborative and helpful than everyone else.  However, don’t forget to balance your own needs. 

Cohen and Bradford write:

“The people in the vast middle of organizations can falter if they don’t keep these opposite necessities in balance.”

Be Inventive in Win-Win Outcomes

Your outcomes don’t have to be win-win.  With slight adjustments, you can usually find a win-win, and build momentum with colleagues along the way. 

Cohen and Bradford write:

“The second guideline is to be as inventive as you can in creating win-win outcomes where you can achieve your goals while helping others achieve theirs.”

Key Take Aways

Here are my key take aways:

  • You can compete without being competitive by being more collaborative and helpful than others.
  • Balance your needs with the requests of others.
  • Be creative with finding win-wins and 3rd alternatives.

You Might Also Like

    Help you colleagues look good

      Category: Book NuggetsTag: Books, Effectiveness

      About JD

      Previous Post:Help Your Colleagues Look Good
      Next Post:Colleague Won’t Help

      Sidebar

      About the Author

      JDI am J.D. Meier. Join me on a quest for the world's best insights and actions for personal greatness. Learn more...

      My Best-Selling Book

      This is the book that changes lives ...

      Become the Greatest Version of Yourself!

      Learn better skills fo personal greatness. Stand on the shoulders of giants and awaken your greatness. Realize your human potential through the world’s best insights and actions for mind, body, emotions, career, finance, relationships, and fun.

      My Other Sites

      • JD Meier.com
      • Getting Results.com

      Topics

      • Personal Development
      • Leadership
      • Productivity
      • Personal Effectiveness
      • Emotional Intelligence
      • All Topics

      Features

      • Featured Guests
      • Book Summaries
      • Books I Recommend
      • Great Lessons
      • Great Quotes
      • How Tos
      • Lists
      • Products I Recommend
      • All Resources

      Copyright © 2023 · Sources of Insight · All Rights Reserved