Management Tip of the Day: 4 Tips for Deciding Whether to Accept a Project

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   AUTHORS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile JANUARY 21, 2010 4 Tips for Deciding Whether to Accept a Project Being presented with a new assignment can feel flattering, or like an increased burden. Consider these four tips when making your decision to accept or not: Imagine yourself doing the assignment. When you envision yourself performing the tasks involved, do you feel invigorated or unmotivated? Research the project's history. Find out as much as you can about the origins of the project and what brought it to you. Know what the stakeholders want. An obvious step is to know who the stakeholders are. But go a step further and find out what their interest in the project really is. Look at your whole plate. It may be that your plate is simply too full. Assess the project with your other commitments in mind. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Should You Accept That Assignment?" by Steven DeMaio. Read the full post and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: RELATED PRODUCT Make Better Decisions Harvard Business Review Article Traditionally, decision making in organizations has rarely been the focus of systematic analysis. That may account for the astounding number of recent poor calls. Business books are rich with insights about the decision process, but organizations have been slow to adopt their recommendations. It's time to focus on decision making. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: ALSO OF INTEREST Stop Making Plans; Start Making Decisions Hidden Traps in Decision Making Who Has the D? How Clear Decision Roles Enhance Organizational Performance Decisions Without Blinders My HBR Success Story: Win an Amazon Kindle! PREVIOUS TIPS How to Approach a Colleague Who Is Making Mistakes 3 Tips for Hiring Former Employees Want to Be Happier at Work? Take Ownership Look Beyond Your RBI Reducing Female Employee Flight Risk The Secret Ingredient in Turnarounds: Buy-In Choose Clarity over Brevity Use Social Media to Reach the Right Job Applicants 3 Ways to Energize Your People How to Deliver Bad News to a Group HBR Online Trial Access HBR's in-depth business archives FREE for 14 days. Register today » UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 1-800-545-7685 (617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)