Workload is the amount and difficulty of work assigned to or carried by a person or team. Managing it means balancing commitments, capacity, priorities, and well-being rather than simply adding more effort. section 3.2.2 section 3.2.8
Manage workload by combining practical safeguards:
- Balance assignments fairly, monitor capacity during agile ceremonies, and address signs of overload promptly. section 3.2.8
- Prioritize new requests against existing commitments, identify trade-offs, and adjust timelines when necessary. section 14.2.4
- Seek resources from other teams when additional work threatens current commitments. section 14.2.4
- Communicate changes openly, redistribute work after departures or reductions, and negotiate scope or delivery dates with stakeholders. section 4.5.3 section 13.3.2
- Protect work–life balance by respecting personal time, discouraging routine overtime, and giving people space during leave or personal difficulty. section 3.2.8
Pushing back on an urgent request
When a team is already stretched thin, explain its current workload and the risks of adding work. Offer alternatives: reprioritize commitments, obtain resources elsewhere, or reset stakeholder expectations. section 14.2.4
