When Pressure Builds, Make Priorities Visible

In August, I gave a talk on rescuing burning projects. My conclusion? They rarely fail because of technology — they fail because of people.

One question from the audience really made me pause: “If you’re in a project and the PM is bossy and keeps piling on pressure, how do you deal with that?”

It is not a simple answer. Ideally, the PM is open to feedback and adjusts. But too often, people just take it on, stay silent… and over time, the stress becomes unbearable. They never say “no.”

Here is a tactic I have seen work: make your priorities visible.

If you work in an office, create a simple matrix:

• Important / Not Important

• Urgent / Not Urgent

  
  

Write your current tasks on sticky notes and place them accordingly. When a new request comes in, pull the matrix out and ask your PM to place it themselves — and to remove something if needed.

This small, visual act changes the conversation. Do not assume your manager remembers everything on your plate. Show them.

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👋 Hello! I’m Eric Fingerhut — Executive Coach & Team Facilitator. I help individuals get promoted without burning out, and teams thrive on trust & collaboration. 

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