Luisa has multiple tasks to work on, including her least favorite task: calling clients who have not yet submitted their invoices to collect on overdue payments. This task always makes Luisa feel slightly uncomfortable, but it is very important to the business owner so that payments can be collected in a timely manner. Read the following possible courses of action and decide which is the BEST way to handle the situation and which is the WORST way to handle the situation. 1. Schedule the task for the end of the day. 2. Schedule the task for the beginning of the day. 3. Email the clients an overdue invoice instead of calling. 4. Ask the business owner to call the clients.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Best Way to Handle the Situation:
2. Schedule the task for the beginning of the day.
Scheduling the task for the beginning of the day is the best course of action. By tackling this difficult task first thing in the morning, Luisa will benefit from having more energy and focus to deal with the discomfort she feels. Procrastination can increase stress and anxiety about the task, and delaying it until later in the day can cause the feeling of dread to linger throughout the day, affecting her productivity. By addressing it early, Luisa can get it out of the way, allowing her to focus on other tasks without the weight of the overdue calls hanging over her.
Additionally, scheduling this task in the morning ensures that she completes it while she is still mentally fresh and more likely to handle any potential conflicts or difficult conversations with clients calmly and professionally. It also allows her to deal with any unexpected responses from clients early, giving her the rest of the day to manage any fallout or follow-up actions.
Worst Way to Handle the Situation:
4. Ask the business owner to call the clients.
Asking the business owner to call the clients is the worst way to handle the situation. While it may seem like an easy out for Luisa, it is important for her to develop the necessary skills to handle these tasks herself, especially since they are part of her responsibilities. Delegating this task could be seen as avoiding a critical aspect of her role, potentially leading to a loss of trust and respect from both the business owner and clients. It may also hinder her professional growth, as she needs to build the confidence and experience to handle difficult conversations directly.
Moreover, delegating this responsibility to the business owner can also disrupt their schedule and take away from their time spent on other important business matters. The client calls are not necessarily high-level tasks that require the business owner’s direct involvement. By avoiding the task, Luisa misses the opportunity to manage a challenging aspect of her job independently.