Your plate is full, and your manager keeps adding to it. You know what needs to come off so you can focus on the work that matters most, but every time you bring it up, the conversation goes the same way. You explain how stretched you are. Your manager listens, acknowledges the load, and nothing actually changes.
Here is what most women leaders miss: this conversation is not really a request for relief. It is a decision the two of you need to make together about where your time creates the most value.
In this Monday Momentum episode of Communicate to Lead, Kele Belton continues the June series on the difficult conversations women leaders walk into, braced for a fight. This third episode reveals why asking your manager for relief rarely works, and how reframing the conversation as a strategic decision changes what your manager hears, how they respond, and what actually shifts on your plate.
What You’ll Learn
Who This Is For
This episode is for women leaders, managers, and high-performing professionals who want to have a better conversation about workload, priorities, and time without sounding overwhelmed or asking permission.
Your Action Step
If there is a conversation you have been putting off about your workload or what needs to come off your plate, prepare it as a decision. Have the conversation this week and lead with how you are thinking about your priorities. Then ask where your time creates the most value. Notice what changes when you stop walking in to ask for relief and start walking in to decide.
AI Prompt
Use this prompt to prepare for a workload or priorities conversation with your manager. Paste it into your preferred AI assistant and answer the questions as they come.
I’m a [role] in [industry]. I have an upcoming conversation with my manager about my workload, my priorities, or something on my plate that needs to shift. Help me frame this as a decision we’re making together rather than a request for permission to let something go.
Ask me 3 questions:
Then write:
Constraints:
Example output style:
Opening phrase: “I want to walk you through how I’m thinking about my priorities, and figure out together what needs to shift.”
Follow-up question: “Where do you see my time creating the most value right now?”
Common Questions About Workload Conversations
What should I say when my manager keeps adding to my plate?
Lead with how you are thinking about your priorities and frame the conversation as a decision about where your time creates the most value.
How do I talk about workload without sounding overwhelmed?
Focus on priorities, business impact, and what needs to shift rather than describing how stressed you feel.
What is the difference between asking for relief and making a decision about workload?
Asking for relief often sounds personal, while a decision conversation focuses on where your time creates the most value for the team or business.
Ready to Go Deeper?
Book a complimentary Leadership Strategy Call with Kele to talk through where you are, where you want to go, and what it will take to get there.
About Your Host
Kele Belton is a communication and leadership trainer who specializes in helping women leaders develop confidence and impact through strategic communication and practical leadership frameworks.
Connect with Kele
