Inability to say “no”
A surprising amount of people in positions of authority are uncomfortable expressing "no." These people have a difficult time standing up to their managers, other departments, and occasionally even their own team. This proclivity towards pleasing others causes problems.
A manager may accept unrealistic requests and make promises that the team cannot meet out of fear of disappointing colleagues or supervisors. Instead, the manager may neglect to object to a concept that is not in the best interests of the firm or team. The manager should be a voice of reason and not be afraid to deliver criticism. A boss who is fearful of offending is more concerned with maintaining the peace than with the long-term consequences of agreeing.
How to fix it: Recognize that coworker accommodation is not a zero-sum game. Please one party at the expense of another. Make decisions based on commercial interests rather than politeness. Practice saying no so that you become more comfortable asserting yourself and advocating for the needs of your team.
