How to advocate for your team to do less

Aug 08, 2024

Senior Content Marketing Manager

TL;DR: Speak up for your team to do less by knowing their limits, backing it up with data, offering solutions, aligning with company goals, communicating clearly, and following up. Keeping the workload balanced boosts productivity and keeps everyone happy.

In today's hustle culture, it's easy for your team to get overwhelmed. As a millennial manager, you know the struggle of balancing work and life, and you get that burnout is real.

So, how do you step up and advocate for your team to do less without looking like you're slacking off? Here’s the lowdown.

Know your team's limits

First off, understand where your team stands. Regular check-ins and honest convos will help you see when things are getting too hectic. Use project management tools like Trello to track tasks and deadlines. If your team’s constantly pulling late nights or stressing out, it's time to step in.

Gather data and evidence

Before you go to bat for your team, gather some solid data. Show how the current workload is hitting productivity, quality, and team morale. Metrics like project completion times, pipeline goals, and employee satisfaction scores are your best friends here.

Propose solutions, not just problems

When you talk to higher-ups, don’t just drop the problem on their lap—come with solutions. Suggest prioritizing big-impact projects, redistributing tasks, or even bringing in extra help like agency support or freelancers. Make it clear how these changes will lead to better work and happier employees.

Align with company goals

Make sure your suggestions tie into the company’s goals. Show how a less stressed, more focused team can boost innovation and performance. It's all about the long game.

Follow Up

After the initial chat, keep the conversation going. Show the positive impact of any changes and continue to advocate for a sustainable workload.

A happy and healthy team is a productive team. Cheers to doing less.