Why “Can you just quickly…?” is never quick
“Just” and “quickly” shrink a big ask so nobody can push back. Name the real size of the request and trade something out instead of stacking it on.
THE QUICK ANSWER
Say this instead: “This is bigger than it sounds. What should we drop?” “Can you just quickly…?” makes a big ask sound small, so nobody can push back. Name the real size of the ask, and trade rather than stack.
GO DEEPER
How “just quickly” hides the real cost
“Can you just quickly take a look at this?” is a polite way to ask. It sounds small, and the person asking usually believes it is small. That is the problem.
The words “just” and “quickly” shrink the ask, so the other person cannot push back without looking unhelpful. If it takes two hours instead of ten minutes, they absorb the cost and say nothing. Do that often enough and their real work starts to slip, or they work late to cover it.
A more honest request names the size: “This is bigger than it sounds. What should we drop to fit it in?” It admits the ask is real, and it invites a trade rather than an extra helping on top of a full plate.
Trading, not stacking, keeps the workload honest. It also tells your team you know their time is limited, which makes them more willing to say yes when it really matters.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Name the real size of the ask and trade something out, rather than stacking more on top.
TEST YOURSELF
You need to hand someone extra work. Which request is most respectful of their time?
PRACTISE IT
Try this lesson in the arcade
Quick retro games that start with this lesson’s situations. One thumb, one to three minutes, free.
