Manage Your Workload, NOT Your Time!

 Time flows in only one direction, whereas work flows in many!–Dilip Saraf

Many, who come to me as clients often begin their woes by telling me how heavy their workload is and how hard they work. In some cases when people leave a company in droves the work that others did now devolves down on those remaining in the team holding the bag. To show their loyalty and their commitment to their boss, they solider on and take on more work. This changes the norm by which their manager now views them. When they scale up their work schedule from 10 hours to 14, this now becomes the norm. So, when they scale back to 12 hours, it looks like they are sloughing off and taking it easy. Some even feel guilty scaling back their hours because of this perception.

This situation also creates a serious morale problem for those, who also want to join the exodus, but are not able to find the time to get ready and market themselves. Their energy to do the extra work required or for which they volunteered suffers because of their mental state. This now creates a vicious cycle that many find it difficult from which to extricate. So, when you find yourself in such a situation here is my guidance:

1. Meet with your manager and review your workload and remaining tasks as you have had them before team members started leaving. Clearly show how much additional work you have taken on and quantify that in hours per day or week, so that your manager understands your situation.
2. Tell the manager that you have already increased your work hours from the previous level to the new higher level (give actual numbers: Now I’m here from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and then I take work home and call the India team to keep their progress on track.).
3. Tell the manager what your priorities are and get her to agree to those priorities in terms of timelines, hours spent, and milestones.
4. Bring your workload down to a reasonable level, a level where you have some discretionary time to grow, socialize with other teammates, and smell what is going on around you and in your company. This will provide you some “breathing” time.
5. If you are hamstrung by lack of time to get ready to market yourself and network with outside contacts, schedule a time for these activities on your calendar. Do NOT work that in as time becomes available. If you go that route, that time will NEVER be available.
6. Get yourself scheduled with specific milestones and make them realistic in view of all your work and personal obligations (résumé ready by Oct 30, LinkedIn Profile posted by November 15, etc.).
7. Ask someone to hold you accountable for your timelines, especially when it comes to meeting your personal obligations, such as getting your résumé ready.

During tough times at work (and at home) it is easy to get sucked in an endless routine of work and more work, leaving yourself exposed to career risks and a feeling of being stuck. Only you can take charge of this situation and manage your boss’ expectations so that you have the time and the energy to do what must be done to get you on a new track.

Good luck!