How do you build your reputation helping people, while also not wasting time, getting taken advantage of, or interrupting your personal time or holiday?
Set expectations proactively.
When someone messages me asking for help I reply with the following combinations of expectations:
- Thank them for messaging
- Acknowledge their question
- Set expectations of my general availability
- Set expectations of when I’ll reply to their specific question
- Set expectations that I hope it helps, and if I can help more afterwards that my usual availability and rate are X.
win/win/win
