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Use this when you’re asked to do more than your schedule can hold.

Rule: offer a tradeoff (priority / scope / date). Never argue.

Preview scripts

Boss:

I can take this on, but it will displace [current priority]. Which should I pause so I can deliver by [date]?

Peer:

I’m at capacity this week. I can do [small piece] by [date], or take the full thing next week. Which works?

Client:

I can help. Full scope lands on [date]. If you need it sooner, we’ll need to reduce scope to [must-haves].

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Rule: Pick a situation → pick a role → replace [brackets] → send. If they push back, use a pushback reply.

Example 1 (capacity)

I can take this on, but it will displace [current priority]. Which should I deprioritize so I can deliver by [date]?

Example 2 (scope creep)

Happy to include [new request]. To keep the deadline, we’ll need to remove [existing item]. If you want to keep scope, the new deadline is [date]. Which do you prefer?

— paywall —

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