How to Balance Demands from Multiple Groups

It's not a circus.

And yet, you've somehow become the juggler.

You've just received urgent requests from several different teams at work, and each of them are convinced that their needs should be your top priority.

To make matters worse, their demands often conflict with each other, making it impossible to please everyone.

Juggling is exhausting.

Do you feel like different groups demand things from you that are difficult to do at the same time?

This experience of competing demands isn't just overwhelming – it's a recognised workplace issue known as role conflict.

When multiple groups have conflicting expectations of your time and effort, it can affect both your productivity and your stress levels.

What's Role Conflict?

Role conflict occurs when you face competing demands from different stakeholders, each with valid but conflicting priorities. Managing these multiple demands effectively is crucial for both your work quality and your professional relationships.

When stakeholder demands are well-coordinated, you can prioritise tasks confidently and meet everyone's needs appropriately.

However, when multiple groups compete for your attention, you need strategies to balance these competing demands effectively.

Why It Matters

Here's why competing group demands need attention:

• It can create constant stress about letting people down or missing deadlines
• It often leads to reduced quality work as you rush to please everyone
• It may damage relationships with groups who feel their needs aren't being met

But you don't have to remain torn between competing priorities. There are ways to manage multiple demands effectively.

1. Map Priorities

Create a clear overview of all demands, deadlines, and their relative importance.

2. Communicate Load

Keep all groups informed about your current commitments and capacity.

3. Negotiate Timing

Work with stakeholders to create a realistic schedule that acknowledges all needs.

Creating Balance

Trying to satisfy too many competing demands can feel like spinning plates while walking a tightrope. It's just not sustainable.

Instead, try using MOOD.ai to track how you feel about your workload balance each day. It's an intuitive way to identify when demands become unmanageable and take proactive steps to address them.

The challenge of juggling multiple group demands is real.

But when you find ways to balance these competing needs, you'll be creating an workplace that feels more like a place to thrive – and less like a circus.