Reflecting on Nisha’s dilemma really drove home how a well‑planned project can slide off course when someone doesn’t follow through. At first, everything looked balanced. Then, Ben started missing deadlines. Suddenly Nisha was doing more than her share just to make sure the presentation didn’t suffer. She stepped in because she cared about the work and valued their friendship, but it let Ben off the hook and left her feeling taken advantage of. I’ve been there. You tell yourself it’s “just this once,” and before you know it you’ve set a precedent.
If I could rewind the clock, I’d insist on an open conversation about capacity from day one. Everyone should know they’ll be rating one another – no surprises. I’d make feedback a running dialogue rather than something you bottle up until a peer review forces it out. Going forward, I plan to schedule regular check‑ins about workload and expectations. No more quietly picking up slack. I’ll keep supporting my teammates, but I’ll draw clear lines so accountability isn’t lost.
