You know that tornado of “Things-To-Do” swirling around your head? If you’re in a professional position of leadership… you’ve got a list and that list tends to make you “Busy”. Please remember, “Busy” does not mean “Better” and “Busy” doesn’t mean “Productive”. Also, your people have a list of their own… ignoring this fact as a leader can cause burn-out, bore-out, and damage your Leadership & Work/Life Harmony… and theirs! So, what to do?
You’re People’s List!
One of the biggest mistakes made by the even noblest of leaders is not knowing the lists’ of their people. Leaders tend to ask employees to do things and believe the only thing on that person’s list is their job and the tasks you asked them to do. Completely oblivious you asked them to do three things, but so did Mike, Jen, and Bob from down the hall! Therefore, their list isn’t three things long… it’s twelve things longs, plus the things they were previously working on to get their actual job done. Then… the death blow comes when you, as the leader, ask the employee, “Why isn’t the task done?”… and they either melt inside themselves feeling inadequate and overwhelmed, or they explode in frustration and are now deemed a problem employee! In my experience, the best way I’ve found to be aware of my people’s list was the 1-on-1 Meetings explained in Chapter 9. It allows you to be your version of “Busy”, them to be their version of “Busy”, with a date scheduled on the calendar to review and prioritize the “Busy”; most people can hold on when they know help is coming… be Mindful!
What If You’re the Employee?
As an employee or team member, you have a list… a list of your duties, extras asked of you by your boss, favors requested by coworkers, etc. Please remember you have options, and leadership is a two-way street!
You have the option to suffer in silence; taking on more and more responsibilities until you burn-out. You have the option of not assuming enough responsibility until you bore-out. Most employees in either situation begin to gripe to other coworkers, significant others, friends, and eventually anyone who will listen about their work issues. This venting makes sense at the moment; however, what you think about all day impacts how you feel, how you behave, your actions, and finally your consequences. It’s hard to think and talk negatively about your job all day and love it! So, what to do?
Burnt-Out Options:
You’re stressed and have taken on too much! Request time to speak with your boss 1-on-1; perhaps schedule a time to respect their daily list. Share your list of tasks and your idea of what the top 1-3 priorities are; as well as your plan to address them. Ask your boss what they like about your idea and what they’d fine-tune. This not only shares your list; it also shows your leadership and initiative to problem solve and ask for guidance. Remember, your boss may be unaware of how long your list really is… and it may also show just how valuable you really are!
Option two, ask for help to best prioritize your list. Share your list and ask for clarification on the “Bigger-Picture” to better organize your list. Too often, employees prioritize tasks based on who gave them the task. The CEO may give a task that’s not relevant for six weeks; while a coworker requested a favor that helps to make next week’s deadline. The CEO has the title, but not making the deadline costs the company their best client. Requesting the “Bigger-Picture” not only helps you prioritize; it forces your leaders to lead!
The last option, you can continue complaining to whoever will listen and venting at work, becoming a Negative Nick or Nancy; droning about your job for decades or soon to be out of a job with no positive Letter of Recommendation to help you move forward. Many have done it and I don’t think many would recommend it in retrospect!
Bored-Out Option:
You’re droning about at your job, believing you can do more, and ready to be more! Request time with your boss 1-on-1; perhaps schedule a time to respect their daily list. Share your passion to be of increased value to the company/team. It may sound like, “Thank You for making time to meet with me. I wanted to say I enjoy working here and would like to be of more value. I have an idea that may help and would like to know what you like about it… or your ideas of how I can do more.” Feel free to make this statement your own, but be sure to thank them for their time, be sure to have completed the tasks you’re actually getting paid to do, and be open to brainstorming. Be mindful… what you may want to do may not be what the organization/team needs most right now.
When you have a specific idea of what you’d like to do for the organization/team, share it out of a willingness to add value; not putting down other people, bosses, or departments.
If you don’t have an exact idea, express an interest to learn more about various aspects of the organization and ask for more ways to be involved. The best-case scenario is… you get what you asked for! You and your boss may collaborate on an idea. Or, your idea may be rejected. This doesn’t mean they are rejecting you as a person… rather, rejecting your idea for an array of possible reasons! Perhaps your idea doesn’t fit into the Vision & Vision Factors, the organization is strict in its policies, they struggle to think outside the box, or your boss is an abusive jerk. Either way, you will eventually know what type of organization you work for and will have a choice to stay or read the writing on the wall and begin looking elsewhere. If you choose to stay, it makes no sense to be angry about what you know to be true. If you decide to leave, it makes no sense to be angry about something you get to leave!
Here’s a final tip for all employees… you add value by relieving pain! Know where the organization/team is falling short, know your superpower, and how that superpower can best add value to stop the pain. Propose your solution and a win-win… what’s the win for them, a win for you, and how soon can it begin? “A Win” for the organization may be one less problem to address, increased productivity, saving money, or increasing revenue. Perhaps a “Win” for you is experience to put on your resume, knowing more about the organization, learning a desirable skill, a raise, a promotion, a new title, etc. A friend once told me, “When you raise your value higher than your customer’s stack of money, you’ll always be ok!”. I’ve never forgotten that and it’s true as an employee, leader, and entrepreneur!
“One of the biggest mistakes made by the even noblest of leaders is not knowing the lists of their people.” – Andre Young
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