How many times have you been overloaded on a project or in your daily operational work? Too many times to count?
It seems like you are always dealing with unreasonable expectations, and it makes you resentful of your boss and company.
But even though you know that the boss is asking too much of you, you can’t help but question your ability to multitask and juggle as much work as you think your boss and peers seem to be handling.
You might wonder if you are not organized, efficient and productive enough to handle so much work. You constantly try to find ways to improve how you work.
This happens to you repeatedly. Project after project. Job after job. Because you keep pulling it off, they keep piling on. It’s a never-ending cycle that is going make you end up in a padded room, talking to yourself.
Do you feel you are being constantly set up to fail?
So Why Do You Keep Putting Up with This?
You want to be seen as a good soldier. You want to say it’s too much, but you think your boss will think you aren’t efficient, are lazy, are a whiner, not committed, not a team player, etc., etc. So, you suffer in silence, year after year.
You want to accomplish the mission so you can feel fulfillment, satisfaction, and success. You want to keep learning and growing.
You think handling too much work will teach you how to juggle a lot of things at once, become a multitasker and impress your boss, your peers, and your employees. Maybe even position you as the hero or golden child of your team.
Or, like most employees…you feel you have no choice. If you don’t deal with being overloaded and overwhelmed, you will not survive in your job and your career.
You tough it out. You put in ridiculous hours each week, lose sleep, give yourself ulcers and accept that you have no work-life balance. But the cumulative effect of always sacrificing is burning you out and you are tired of sacrificing so much for bosses.
Why Is This Approach No Longer Practical?
It’s a known thing that multitasking is no longer considered the best way to be productive. It increases stress. The quality of work suffers, and it reduces your efficiency and performance.
Today’s leaders must focus on how they can best serve and support their team. They can’t do the “Hero” syndrome and be all about their own productivity. It’s about making their employees productive.
What Can You Do About It?
Here are 8 Things You Can Do:
- First, give yourself a break and cut yourself some slack. Being overloaded and overwhelmed happens to everyone. This is not specific to you.
- If you still aren’t sure if it’s just you, get another perspective/opinion from someone you trust. Someone who can give you candid, but supportive perspective.
- Schedule a meeting with your boss:
- Talk to them, in their terms, about why the project could fail
- Provide them with an accurate list of everything you are doing. Don’t just whine for the sake of whining
- Ask them for their ideas on how to handle all the work
- Come across as candid but calm, Not emotional
- Tell them you are trying to be responsible to them and the organization, by following best business practices and setting the work up for success
- Don’t just say you can’t do it. Say you will still help, but in a smaller way
- Offer solutions. Not just the problem. Give them alternative ideas
- Engage others to become involved. Help them take ownership and accountability for some of the work. Whether it’s your peers or delegating to your team.
- Provide your boss with an estimate of the time and resources needed to accomplish what they are asking. View projects as though you are a contractor giving them an estimate, based on the reality of the project scope.
- Ask your boss to prioritize the different projects they have given you.
- Don’t be afraid to fight for the right resources and support you truly need.
- Have an end goal in mind. Meaning, don’t just complain about this particular project. Talk about using a methodical, structured, and intentional approach to all your work that will ensure consistent success that your boss will appreciate.
In today’s working environment, bosses must be more sensitive and accommodating to employee’s needs. If you really like your job, you should not be afraid to set yourself up for continued success by diplomatically setting boundaries with your boss. Coach them up.
If your boss is not open to reducing your load and they show no sign of ever letting up…cut and run. Run like the wind…to a better job!
