Ever thought to yourself, “Everyone wants everything… and they all want it now.”
Clients, Finance, your own team or even the CEO. The request lands, and often when you’re trying to keep your own strategy on track and your head above water.
This is the unspoken work of marketing.
Managing the pull of competing priorities without feeling the ‘finger is being pointed’
It’s not always easy, but here are a few options to support when you want to clearly explain.
Really Listen
Before diving into delivery mode, stop and ask:
What’s actually being asked, and why?
Conflicting priorities often come from misalignment, not malice. Different teams have different pressures. The product team wants launches. Sales wants leads. Your boss wants impact.
Before you try to fix the tension, take time to understand it.
What’s driving each request?
What’s at risk if it’s delayed or deprioritised?
This isn’t about picking sides. It’s about clarity before chaos.
Anchor decisions to business goals, not people
When everything feels urgent, it’s tough.
But your work is planned and strategic. You are absolutely right to bring it back to the bigger picture.
- What aligns with this quarter’s goals / this year, or the focus for your strategy?
- What drives real outcomes for the business?
Frameworks like OGSM* or even a simple priority grid can help you map requests against impact and take the emotion out of the decision.Still stuck?
Be transparent
Saying “we can’t do that right now” is easier when you can show why.
One of the best things you can do is be clear, if the business allows it.
If we pull resources onto X, Y will be delayed. Here’s the impact. What would you prefer?
Invite people into the decision. It could help to build trust or a connection for the future, even when the answer isn’t what they hoped for, on this occasion.
Bring the right people together
Sometimes a 30-minute meeting with everyone in the room is the quickest path to clarity.
Other times, smaller one-to-one conversations work better, especially when things feel tense or political.
You don’t have to be the mediator. Create a space for honest conversations instead of letting assumptions build behind the scenes.
Don’t just update, align
Once you’ve agreed on what matters most, don’t stop there.
Check in. Realign. Review.
Set up a simple rhythm of communication, a Slack thread, a weekly check-in or a shared doc.
The goal isn’t to micromanage. It’s to avoid last-minute surprises and unnecessary rework.
When everyone knows what’s happening and why, things run smoothly. Even if plans change.
Show the data, not just the effort
People don’t always see what marketing is doing behind the scenes.
Use a dashboard. A tracker. A one-page update.
Whatever works for your context , to make progress visible.
It’s easier to explain and for others to understand priorities when the outcomes are clear.
It also helps shift the conversation from:
“Why isn’t this done?”
to
“Here’s what we’re working towards.”
It is NOT all on you
You don’t need to do it all. Reach out to your communities, your team or those who understand.
You’re a strategist, a communicator, and often the one quietly holding it all together.
And in MiMs, we see how powerful that really is.
About Mums in Marketing
Mums in Marketing is a global community dedicated to supporting and empowering mums in marketing and the creative industries. We provide a safe space for members to share experiences, gain insights, and build valuable connections, all while balancing the demands of career and motherhood.
If you’re interested in joining us or discussing sponsorship, partnership or event opportunities, please feel free to contact us at hello@mumsinmarketing.net.
