You can’t care more than they do

I’m humbled by the people I coach. Everyday they face the most astonishing levels of stress, do good – even great – work for their internal clients, then come back the next day for more. Their resilience is epic, even legendary. They are so good, in fact, that no one can see how close they are to flaming out.

Well, not no one. I can see it. My clients can too. Problem is, I can’t figure out how to get them to stop colluding with their tormentors.

Most of these high-achieving professionals would rather die than say to a client: “You slipped your deadline for reviewing this, which means the whole production schedule will be delayed.” I’m at a loss to understand why this is so difficult to say. Even when the client argues, or yells, or says, “but this has to be done in two weeks!” or complains to the pro’s boss, it doesn’t change the facts.

And isn’t it kinda obvious that, if a client cared that much, they’d have made time to do their part? Isn’t it kinda obvious that, since you have multiple clients and one of them is allowed to do this, someone else’s project will have to be delayed? And, isn’t it kinda obvious that you’ll then have no credibility with any of your clients? So why would you stay late atwork or come in on weekend rather than saying this?

Perhaps I’m missing something? If so, please correct me. I’m all ears.