ENOUGH
WHAT IS ENOUGH AT WORK?
October 13, 2022
I love this photo. Why? Because it represents what we all too often forget.
This is one of the more challenging blogs I’ve written. I keep conjuring up all the defenses that readers might have, the same defenses I hear from clients. But you know what? That’s the cool thing about a blog...you get to share your very own perspective!
When it comes to “how much is enough at work?” I think we have to peel back to the VALUE of the task and the INTENTION behind the desire to do it. Here are a couple examples:
Leading a new product launch team - You put your name in the hat because you want to showcase your skills, lead a small team and make an impact for customers. All good intentions. And, assuming the product is valuable, you’ve also nailed the value of your time. Conversely, if you raised your hand because you want the accolades but doing so will overload your calendar and cut into making it home for dinner with your family on the regular, that might require some pause. Be thoughtful about your reasons for saying “yes”.
Accepting a promotion with skepticism about your new leader – We all like recognition, in some form, for our time, effort and skills. And a promotion is one of the biggest accolades available and may provide value to your career trajectory. But stress over an ineffective relationship with a leader will seep into all the other arenas of your life. It will change your energy at work and at home, and impact the relationships you have with others. Question your intentions when your radar is whispering to you. Choose wisely, not just on the compensation and job features but also on the leadership ladder in the new role.
Powering through emails at the end of the day – I love this saying, “Emails are other people’s priority list”. This is one place where I think questioning value is super important. I see too many people focused on their inbox adrenaline kick and trying to look super “responsive”. This is one place where learning some productivity hacks can go a long way. (Suggestions: timebox and schedule email work, use folders and filing efficiently, separate emails to you from those where you are copied.) This is where clients give me lots of pushback: “that’s just our culture”, “everyone expects that of me”, “I don’t want to miss anything”, “I don’t want it to look like I’m not working or not logged in”. I can assure you strong leaders and c-suite executives care more about your talent and your ideas than they do about your emails. Figure out how to be efficient and effective and make a system that works for you.
I’m all for making an impact, serving others and following through on commitments. And I suspect, so are you. So by no means am I suggesting B-level work, leaving others in the lurch or doing the bare minimum. Rather, what I see, time and time again, is a perfectionistic people-pleasing approach to work. And that approach steals energy and over time it steals time away from priorities.
Working moms need exceptional clarity on the roles they play, how to evaluate them on the fly and how to juggle multiple roles throughout the day. You have to be the guardian of your purpose and priorities, no corporation will do that for you. YOU decide how much is enough based on YOUR value and YOUR intentions.
QUESTION THE VALUE AND THE INTENTION BEHIND WORK COMMITMENTS.
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