How to Return Time to a Workaholic Boss
There are many ways for a good boss to become bad, and one of them is a boss who does not realize that his crazy pace cannot match his subordinates. However, there is hope that you will be able to change the boundaries.
A workaholic boss who is always the first to show and the last to leave can easily make everyone else in the company feel like they can never do enough or maintain a healthy work-life balance. Life coach Melody Wilding writes for Quartz that these employees should take into account that the boss doesn’t even know that their grueling schedule is so bad, and clear communication can often make a difference.
Wilding says she identified two of the most effective types of conversational strategies for this, based on the work of Harvard Business School professor Michael Watkins. She believes that if you approach your boss in one of these two ways, he will be receptive to change.
Clarify expectations
It may be that your boss does not understand that you are getting signals from him about when to take breaks (never) or go home to the family (too late for lunch). They may just race at their own pace and don’t really expect you to keep up:
Watkins suggests asking clarifying questions, such as, “What are some key things [you need me to] achieve in the short to medium term? What will constitute success? When? How will this be measured? »From there, you can negotiate unrealistic deadlines to make them more achievable.
Having a clear idea of what their expectations are for your product will only suit both of you. If your boss expects two projects to be completed by a certain amount of time, rather than a certain amount of time spent on two projects, that could change your whole approach. You can use your time more effectively if you’re not just trying to turn off the lights at night. It can also ease anxiety by knowing the actual expectations of the job instead of coming up with much higher expectations.
Evaluate each other’s work style
How the boss wants to be interacted with is usually his job, to a reasonable degree. Wilding says you can still find a satisfying compromise on things that suck you but need. For example, a boss who wants daily checks at work might agree to weekly checks or emails rather than face-to-face meetings. This can significantly reduce your office time.
To start this discussion, she suggests questions from Watkins, for example, “What decisions does [your boss] want to be involved in and where can you make decisions yourself? How are your styles different and what are the implications for your interactions? “
It may happen that your approach to work is different, but both of you are achieving your goals. The more down-to-earth or micromanaged style can seem stifling to those who are used to managing their time. If you are in charge of managing a team, you may need to work on your own ability to delegate authority and transfer responsibility for reviewing work with your boss to another person.
after conversation
Both are just the beginning of attempts to restore the boundaries that the workaholic boss has broken through. They require maintenance, and Wilding suggests several other ways to re-shape these lines. In meetings with your boss, always focus on the results spent on the time spent on projects, unless this suggests ways in which you can eliminate time from the process. Maybe unnecessary meetings, for example. You don’t want to sound rude, but say something like, “Your feedback is really valuable to me, but it will be more useful at longer intervals so that we have room to implement your ideas.”
It is also very important to conserve your free time. While Wilding says there may inevitably be times when something is busy and you really need to be available and present outside of office hours, it’s usually best to be clear about when you will be responding to emails. If you can safely text your boss on Saturday night, do so; but she suggests that you simply write that you received a message and respond to it on Monday. Working hours.