Like many of you all, I have heard of these words so many times{’Effective’, ’Time’, ’Management’’Work’} that I hate every word in the topic, barring the preposition. Amongst other usual advices gotten from my superior(who proved to be inferior in many spheres though) the one which I vividly remember is how he would expect every employee to come, work and leave’on time’ and the ones who stay late would be termed as’Inefficient’ as they apparently seem to struggle to meet deadlines in the given time limit. Well, in my manager’s parlance, the credit for creating a team of 12’inefficient’ people goes to him, what with the unattainable deadlines given.
A career span of about 4 years may not look sufficient enough to contribute advices on this topic. According to me a one year experience in the software or BPO industry commensurates with a 10 year experience that we would have had few years ago. This, I say in terms of pluses like money earned and opportunities, together with the fatigue, STRESS and resentment adding to the negative side.
While an 8 hour job has almost become a myth in today’s drastically changing scenario, one has to understand that there are’smart workers’ out there sticking to this time limit most of the days. Let me list some points which I believe would help us to work for minimum hours(whether 8 hrs or 10 hrs depending on the job) and ofcourse would spare us with some peace of mind.
LEARN TO SAY’NO’:- This might sound simple or even silly, but it is difficult for some to say no in many occasions. Little do we realise that benevolence in most occasions works against us. Compensating for your team-mate’s sick leave a couple of times is ok. But if you end up compensating for every sick leave that is taken in your team, then you are made the scape-goat. The helping hand that you render, would in due course work against you. People who slog for too many hours, would be usually managing someone else’s work as well. *I have experiences of taking up a half completed work, striving to finish it to cover someone’s absence, and consequently bearing the brunt of all forthcoming related works. It is not just a stop-gap arrangement.
NEVER MISS YOUR BREAKS:- If you start skipping your lunch, or tea-breaks, you will be termed as’an unsocialble person, who doesn’t mingle with colleagues.’ Your manager will be least bothered(in most occasions) to pat your shoulder and remind you to have your lunch. Well, they may do so when they need to discuss some impending onsite opportunity with your friend who sits beside you in office. You should give a clear picture to your manager that you are not the workaholic kind. Thanks to my inability to stay hungry for long, I have never ever missed a break. Infact I have influenced new comers to follow suit too; Not surprisingly, I was told by my manager to’mind my own business’(which I didn’t or rather couldn’t)
BE A HARD NUT TO CRACK:- There should always be an air of uncertainty surrounding you, to the manger’s eye. It is nice to become friends with everyone in the team, but every word that you utter of your personal life or personal plans must be done with caution. If your manager starts a friendly chat by inquiring about your weekend plans, there is every chance that he is trying to rope you in for a testing or BCP or production support. You may innocuously reveal that you are just going to while away your time, and there you are trapped. Bachelors were the main target for this kind of MANAGER’S BAIT in my office.
THREATEN TO RESIGN :- Again, unlike olden days, there is not a single person who stays in the same job from start to finish(retirement). With the innumerable opportunites, one is not obliged to sit in the same job and slog. Atleast 1 in 5 people who get their promotion or some alluring onsite opportunity, (which according to you is premature), has got it because they threatened to resign. **Unless you are a hopeless performer, your demands would be heeded to.
MODESTY IS NOT THE BEST POLICY:-If you are contented about your work and performance, your boss is supposed to feel the same way. Sadly, NONE OF THE MANAGERS FEEL THAT WAY. They atleast pretend not to feel that way. Yes, this does help you to improve your performance, as you should work keeping in mind’my best is yet to come’; but you would only be told that you didn’t get something because you never asked for it. IN TODAY’S WORLD YOU HAVE TO SHOUT LOUD AND HARD TO GET NOTICED.
BRING SOME’LIFE’ TO MEET DEADLINES:- To beat the monotony, create a lively atmosphere by enjoying birthdays and other such joyous occasions. Attend every party or function organised by your office as those are the ways to let your superior know that you would like to’live’ life outside work too.
DON’T REACT MUCH:- I was in the opinion that one should not over-react for anything, but eventually realised that flaunting a stone-like face helps, i.e., it is at times best not to react at all. Neither the allegations nor the praises are to be taken too very personally. A kind of detached attachment is difficult to obtain, but when practiced it does wonders. My boss has made me feel like I have just committed a capital blunder for a mistake, which had a negligible impact; the intention may be good, but if you portray a face with guilt and remorse, your mistake and eventual happenings will be blown out of proportion.
In a way, behaving like a’union leader’ @ job does help!