I'm having trouble in my job lately.

8 Comments

1. AnonymousNovember 18,2024 at 11:31AM UTC

   Document directions you received in writing and confirm them with your manager.

2. AnonymousNovember 18,2024 at 1:23PM UTC

   I agree that you should document everything and follow up with the manager. If the "messes" don't involve billable hours and you don't have the time to do both, ask the manager which is more important. If she says "both" (which I've heard bosses do), and you can't do them in the time required, ask for concessions for the overtime you have to do (comp time, overtime pay, bonus, etc.).

3. Megan LeasherNovember 18,2024 at 1:47PM UTC

   Definitely document everything. I support another comment I saw that said "ask the manager which is more important" when you are being asked to do multiple things and don't have time for them all, being clear which things are billable versus not. Documentation and transparency are key right now.

4. Sue Gordon- retired Career CoachNovember 18,2024 at 2:44PM UTC

   Campus=large organization. Can you transfer internally? Your department sounds not-good.

   Those project management skills-- certainly they are needed elsewhere? Look internally.

5. misskelleypNovember 18,2024 at 7:17PM UTC

   No matter what the job plusses are, being nasty to your family has to stop. I promise you, when the job falls apart, your family will still be there for you. Take care of them FIRST. MAKE time to spend with your family, even if it's just game night at home - something you all can enjoy. Then, yes, your work friends may stay with you after this job (let's face it - almost every job ends at some point, and the company won't think twice about letting you go), so nurture those professional friendships/relationships. Lastly, repeat after me: "I am doing the best I can with the resources I have". And then live those words. Best of luck to you.

6. AnonymousNovember 21,2024 at 5:53PM UTC

   Find a way to manage your manager. Best advice is start to memorialize every time you are given a task, use a task management software or simply an excel spreadsheet. Put in date given, task given, deadline for task. Then if the direction changes document that and email the person who shifted direction. Make the document shared but you are the only person who can add to it. Then use your calendar to cross reference time spent on items. Stop working weekends, and use priority levels to determine how urgent each task is for example P0 is drop everything, P1 is within 48 hours, P2 within the week, P3 within the month, P4 within the quarter. Then you control things. If you have more on your plate that can be done in M-F move the items not completed to the next week. Friday at 3PM set the calendar items for the following week that roll over and walk away. Refresh, repeat. You got this! Make it work for you and control your own destiny and continue to enjoy the things you love there.

7. AnonymousNovember 27,2024 at 4:25PM UTC

   Lots of suggestions to document everything -- I'd take this a step further and document the direction you're getting in an internally shared, easily accessible project document. Track your progress here, but have an entire section for "decisions": "On X date I received Y direction from Z", and note any conflicts with other direction provided. Bring this to your manager. If you haven't yet been as direct with your manager as you're being here, I'd recommend it. You need to give them every chance to support you knowing you've been extremely clear about the problems you're having, then if you're still feeling unsupported, find someone else to talk to. Talk to your manager's manager, or someone on the same hierarchical tier as your manager, and without blaming them directly. For example, I might try saying something like "I'm having a hard time communicating what I need from [manager] and I'm hoping for some advice". Ultimately, once you've exhausted all avenues, you're just going to have to decide what rate of change you're comfortable waiting for and whether you're going to stick around, which is the hardest part. Good luck!

8. maria roseDecember 2,2024 at 3:29PM UTC

   Sounds like your job is requiring you to do more now than previously , and you are not adapting well to the demands as you are a “one speed”performer. You don’t mention the why the workload is suddenly so overwhelming but it appears you have nothing to do with the decision to increase your productivity but it’s a overall change that you, personally disagree with because you don’t feel that you need to be more productive and most certainly don’t like feeling pressured to speed up and upgrade your performance. As the others have said, perhaps you need a more personal explanation from your supervisor as to why all the demands and where your performance productivity fits in the equation. Afterall, you had no issues until recently so why now. You don’t need to rush out and find another job because your current job has made changes in your job expectations that you feel is not the job you were hired for, but you do need to understand that your job description may have changed and you need to adjust and adapt. Just rushing to quit or find another job is not going to instantly create the atmosphere of doing your job, that you are hired to do. Get a better understanding of the changes before you jump and leave—you have many more Pros to staying put in your current job than finding another job . And learn to leave work at work when you come home All of this addressed to the OP who made this post—I wish you luck in dealing with your frustration and hope you ride the tide of change.