3 Things to Check Before You Say “Yes” to a New Project

Saying “yes” to a new project is a no-brainer: more growth, more opportunities, and definitely more revenue. But, many times, leaders agree to a new project without checking their team’s capacity and availability. They rush into this decision without thinking of the consequences. The result? Delayed delivery, unhappy client, overloaded team members.

Taking a new project is important for the company, and of course, you want to say “yes”. But sometimes clients don’t mind if you delay the start date, while for you, it could make a huge difference.

Next time you approve a new project, make sure to check these steps first:

Always start by understanding your team’s availability - who’s actually free to take on the work?

• • It’s easy to assume someone can step in, but availability calendars often tell a different story.
• • Vacations, trainings, or other ongoing commitments may already stretch your people thin.
• • Without insights, you risk assigning work to someone already overloaded.

👉 Check first: Is your team truly available? Don’t guess — look at their availability calendars.

Let’s assume your people are free. Now, the next question you need to ask is: do they have the right skills?

• • A project may require specialized expertise (e.g., design, compliance, technical knowledge).
• • Assigning the wrong person might keep things moving, but risks poor results.
• • A clear view of skills ensures the right people handle the right tasks.

👉 Check first: Do you have the skills in-house, or do you need to train or hire? If you don’t, don’t assume your team will handle it; but take steps to improve your situation.

The third and most important question you should be asking is: What happens to existing projects when you add a new one? Sometimes leaders get caught up in taking on more work that they forget about the current one.

• • Every “yes” affects your current work: deadlines shift, priorities change, and bottlenecks appear.
• • Without workload forecasting, you may unintentionally set yourself up for failure.
• • Smart leaders don’t ask, “Can we start this?” They ask, “What happens if we do?”

👉 Check first: Will this project push others off track? What to do to prevent it?

A new project is always exciting, but a rushed decision can have a hidden cost. Leaders who check availability, skill fit, and workload impact before deciding when to start a new project take on more projects and deliver them successfully.

With the right capacity insights, you’ll know when to say yes and when to wait.

Remember, saying “not yet” or “next week” doesn’t mean turning away business. It means protecting your team, maintaining quality, and client trust, because this is what matters in the long run.