Matt Ryder walks through a coaching framework for resource constraints: frame it as a barrier, set a tight timeline, then challenge the estimate downward. Secure permission for twice-weekly check-ins without formal calls, just blocked time in your calendar.
If someone doesn't have the cash on hand, that's not a poor mindset. There's just something stopping them. What I'll do is I'll go, okay, it seems this is something that you really need and want, and there's just a barrier in the way. How long do you need to overcome that obstacle? We need to find that nice bracket of time that we think seems reasonable to solve that problem, and then we need to lock that in. If it seems pretty simple and they think they need 2 months, I'd go, hey, if I challenge you, do you reckon you can get it done in 6 weeks? Now they can't overcome 14 different logistical issues in a week, so it's like, hey, that's a lot of stuff to do in a week. Does that seem reasonable? Do you feel like you need more time? Then what we do is we ask them, how often are you okay with me reaching out to you to make sure that you're still on track? If I call you twice a week, are you cool with that? Yep. Sweet. Now we're cool. We have permission. Now what we're not going to do is book a call. That's not going to happen. You just block time out in your diary for follow-ups.
