There are points in every person’s career when it can feel like you could live at work and you still wouldn’t get to the bottom of your inbox and have every item on your to do list crossed off. However, the difference between being in a phase where you have an above average workload versus being on the path to eventually burning out can be a result of how you communicate your current state at work, and who you communicate with. Let us give you five options for handling being overworked without whining to your boss.
- Phone a friend/ colleague
Sometimes just talking about what’s bothering you can help you feel better about your situation. This doesn’t mean that you embark on an endless rant that allows you to complain about everything in your life that’s wrong. However, you can give a friend or colleague a call and outline the problem with your workload. If you frame it up as a problem that you know can be solved, rather than a no-holds-barred vent session, it will help both of you to take a solution focused approach toward the conversation. Ideally, after your friend or colleague has an understanding of your situation, they can offer real-life insight on what you can do to delegate some work, discuss the situation with your boss, or offer suggestions on how to just make it through the challenges that your workload and schedule are throwing your way. A trusted colleague or friend can also give you the push you need to have a challenging conversation with your boss, or give you the honest feedback that right now you just need to suck it up.
- Know your timeline
Be aware of how long you’ve been feeling overworked. A sustained heavy workload that has not ebbed or flowed in the last six months can be considered a cause for concern. Every situation is different, but feeling like you’re never going to be able to see the light at the end of the busy-ness tunnel can feel downright defeating. This will also help you draw a line in the sand that may help you determine when you’re going to take action. For instance, you might know that because of your industry the first quarter of the year your colleagues are going to see you more than your family. However, if summer is approaching and you have no idea when you’ll be able to take time off to enjoy your summer vacation, it may be time to have a bigger conversation with your boss. Ideally, you’re communicating with your boss throughout your busy season, and he/she understands how hard you’re working and appreciates the extra effort. However, there may be a time when you feel like working another 60+ hour work week isn’t sustainable, and you should be ready to talk about how long you’ve been putting in the extra hours.
- Ask for help
As a part of your effort to reduce your workload, understand who you can ask for help. If there are colleagues who you have helped out in the past, explain your situation, and reach out to see if they have bandwidth to pitch in. If you haven’t cooperated with team members before, and you’re not sure how your boss would handle this arrangement, ask the question before you give up and work another super long week without any support. Be specific with your boss about what you’re asking for and who might be able to help you. If you just fly into your boss’s office and start complaining about how much you have to do and no help to get it done, the only thing your boss is going to hear is that you’d rather complain about it than do it.
- Progress/ Project assessment
One way to approach your boss with a discussion about your workload is to ask to sit down and review your projects/priorities. Oftentimes a supervisor won’t understand why you’re the first one in and the last to leave because they only understand a fraction of what you have on your plate. If you can take 30 minutes to walk your boss through your workload, you can talk about what is more challenging than you anticipated, the resources you’re using, the resources you need to get your projects completed more efficiently, and explain why you need help. The only challenge with this approach is if your boss believes that your workload is not an overwhelming proposition, and won’t give you more resources than what you’re already working with. If that’s the response from your boss, you will need to be ready to solve the issue for yourself, and that just might be launching your job search. If you’ve been feeling this way for months, and are dreading this conversation, part of it probably has to do with your own insecurity and self-doubt. You may be feeling like if you’re having this conversation that you’re failing, and if you’re failing, your boss can find someone who can handle this workload. However, know that most people are too hard on themselves. They let their fear drive their decision making instead of asking for what they deserve to be happy at work and at home.
- Be Open to Solutions
Even if you go into your boss’s office and know what you’re asking for, you might not get it. You might get something even better than what you’re asking for, but you won’t know that until you ask, and actually listen to the solution your boss provides. If you are only willing to accept the solution you propose, you can come across as singularly focused, rigid, and unwilling to be a team player. If you don’t like what your boss proposed, explain what issues you’ll still be dealing with as a result of the proposed solution, and discuss your additional needs.
Having the “I’ve got so many things on my plate I don’t know what to tackle first” conversation with your boss can strike fear into the heart of even the most seasoned employee. However, keep in mind, your boss wants to know what is keeping you from performing at your peak level, and he or she will want to help you. Understand that asking for a reprieve every once in awhile does not reflect badly on you, rather it does let your boss know that he or she can trust you to speak up when it’s too much. Your excellent performance does speak for itself, and communicating when you have a problem or too many problems from time to time should only reinforce your understanding of your job and expectations. If you never ask for help, you’ll never give your boss the opportunity to help you succeed or help you understand just how valuable you are to their team.