I am so bogged down with wearing so many hats in this company that:
a. I am drowning
b. I am tired of being the "person to call"
c. I am not getting any of my own work done
d. (see b above) Now, I've become very irritable
e. I talk to myself out loud more often (I've become more vulgar) :mg::nope:
f. I am beginning to not sleep well at night
g. I am never on the Cove anymore
h. I sometimes work during lunch because of sensitive material that is company-private. (can't work on it with others around in this bullpen area)
i. I have to put up with idiots that should be fired for their lack of respect to the company and management
and I could go on and on...:frust::frust::frust::frust::frust:

I cannot say "No." most of the time because my management assigns me to most of this stuff. I just cannot win.

When can I retire? :lol:

I wear so many hats that if you took them all off I'd only stand 18" tall, crushed (or compacted) due to the weight of all the hats.

I wear so many hats that if you took them all off I'd only stand 18" tall, crushed (or compacted) due to the weight of all the hats.

Thanks! I needed to get in at least one smile today! :)
I missed being in the Cove.

Only you know when you can retire. In the meantime, remember, you do control your own destiny. Gotta learn how to say "No". I wear many hats, in addition to the mandatory hats, my other hats include, personnal advisor, phsycologist, (no degree in that field), High definition t.v. expert, which I am not, I just know more than most people,etc... I find that a lot of people are simply too lazy to think for themselves anymore. But if I am not in the mood that day, I simply tell people to fiqure it out for themselves. Any vacation time? You'll be alright, we all have these issues. Things could be worse, you could be the Mayor of Detroit.:tg:

Only you know when you can retire. In the meantime, remember, you do control your own destiny. Gotta learn how to say "No".

You're right. I will try next opportunity. Thanks.

I also wear enough hats, that on some days, I don't know if I am coming or going. And if that isn't enough, when management comes up with some grand idea I get the first opportunity to "do it". No chance to say no or blink (usually they come to me via E-mails).

So I totally understand where you are coming from. I think the only thing that keeps me going is my dream of hut on a nice sandy beach somewhere selling t-shirts and drinking some fruity drink. :biglaugh:

I also wear enough hats, that on some days, I don't know if I am coming or going. And if that isn't enough, when management comes up with some grand idea I get the first opportunity to "do it". No chance to say no or blink (usually they come to me via E-mails).

So I totally understand where you are coming from. I think the only thing that keeps me going is my dream of hut on a nice sandy beach somewhere selling t-shirts and drinking some fruity drink. :biglaugh:

Can I join you? :biglaugh:

Do you want some realistic strategies for coping [even excelling] or do you just have a need to vent today?

In over 45 years, I wore lots of hats simultaneously. I was often tired, often cranky (with or without lots of hats), BUT I was never discouraged, never lost my sense of humor, never stopped learning, and never, ever stopped listening. I arranged priorities and planned so I rarely had a fire to fight and didn't panic when one flared up.

Boy Scouts have a motto, "Be Prepared," that works if you use it as the model for your life.

Do you want some realistic strategies for coping [even excelling] or do you just have a need to vent today?

Both. Thanks!!!

Both. Thanks!!!I'll stretch the strategies out over the weekend as I drift in and out of the Cove.

Strategy #1 - Be honest!
When someone asks you to put on another hat, say simply, "I'm pretty heavily booked right now. All of my "to do" list items claim some urgency so I have to set priorities on which to do now and which have to be deferred. Give me sufficient information about your requirement so I can set a priority based on my capability and capacity to perform the task within your timetable. It just may be that I'm physically incapable of meeting your timetable, in which case we can discuss alternates."

People respect a straight shooter. People do not respect wishy-washy namby-pamby folks who always say yes and sometimes fail to deliver. Which reputation would you rather have? The one where you deliver what you promise or the one where you promise what you can't deliver?

:topic:Members of the Craft will recognize the phrase, "My name is ______. What I purpose, that I perform!"

Hey Crusader

Take care of yourself, you are one of the good ones here.

Several (actually most) of the things you list are signs of depression.

I know because I'm just now recovering from a fairly serious bout myself (brought on by job stress).

Don't fool around with this. If it is serious it won't get better by itself. I waited way too long to seek help.

Work shouldn't hurt. And if the pain comes home with you, its time to do something about it.

Over the years, I noticed that people who suffer depressions, burnt out or whatever terms they called it are usually the perfectionist - a very valuable trait. These people can really give you a perfect (in practical sense) job given enough resources.

As you moved up and up, time becomes a luxury and that's when people have to accept two important realities:

1. There isn't a need for a perfect job because we live in a non-perfect world. The perfect job handed over to an imperfect superior of client is wasted effort. Further more perfect or not is very subjective. What is perfect to you may not be perfect to another and what is not perfect to you may turn out to be perfect to another.

2. Time management - Pareto's 20/80 rule. Just using 20% of effort, 80% gets done. Do you have the luxury to use the balance 80% to complete the balance 20% and get a perfect job done or would you rather spend the balance 80% to bring another 4 projects (80%/20%) up to the 80% level?

Hi Crusader,

You have started a very important thread which has become a part and parcel of one's daily worklife. I wear many hats but do not count because if I start counting, it adds to my stress ;)

I would like to share an article on Managing Job Stress (http://spot.pcc.edu/~rjacobs/career/managing_job_stress.htm) and a slide show on Stress Managemnent (http://www.slideshare.net/Trivia/stress/), which you will definitely like it.

Elsmar Cove is my great stress reliever :tg:

Hey Crusader

Take care of yourself, you are one of the good ones here.

Several (actually most) of the things you list are signs of depression.

I know because I'm just now recovering from a fairly serious bout myself (brought on by job stress).

Don't fool around with this. If it is serious it won't get better by itself. I waited way too long to seek help.

Work shouldn't hurt. And if the pain comes home with you, its time to do something about it.

Caster makes an important point:
Sometimes the job is depressing, but depression is a medical condition. Start off looking at some medical sites about depression (lots of checklists around) and see if you go past the mid mark on the scale in a couple of those checklists. If yes, go see a medical professional to confirm or rule out clinical depression. I once had a partner with bipolar illness. When he was in his manic phase, strangers loved him because he was bright,witty, charming, and seemingly indefatigable. When he was depressed, the cloud enveloped everyone within a hundred yards. Drugs today are much better at helping folks through the tough patch than they were 25 years ago when my partner struggled.

I cannot say "No." most of the time because my management assigns me to most of this stuff. I just cannot win.

When can I retire? :lol:

Crusader,

I found this book: "When I Say No, I Feel Guilty" (http://www.amazon.com/When-Say-No-Feel-Guilty/dp/0553263900) years ago. It is good advise for folks like us that want to help everybody and his brother and forget about our own and our loved ones' needs.

It's a good read.

Here are some reviews (http://www.amazon.com/review/product/0553263900/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt/002-9999922-3536839?%5Fencoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1) of this book.

Wishing you the very best.

Stijloor.

I am so bogged down with wearing so many hats in this company that:
a. I am drowning
b. I am tired of being the "person to call"
c. I am not getting any of my own work done
d. (see b above) Now, I've become very irritable
e. I talk to myself out loud more often (I've become more vulgar) :mg::nope:
f. I am beginning to not sleep well at night
g. I am never on the Cove anymore
h. I sometimes work during lunch because of sensitive material that is company-private. (can't work on it with others around in this bullpen area)
i. I have to put up with idiots that should be fired for their lack of respect to the company and management
and I could go on and on...:frust::frust::frust::frust::frust:

I cannot say "No." most of the time because my management assigns me to most of this stuff. I just cannot win.

When can I retire? :lol:

I've been in similar situations, and as others have pointed out thus far, you really do need to say "no" sometimes, but how you say it can make a difference. There's a good chance that the people who are overloading you don't realize they're doing it; they just realize that when they ask you to do something, it gets done. They're following the path of least resistance.

I suggest that you make a journal of your daily activities, accounting for all of your time at work. Keep it for a month or so, and at the end make a list of the things you're doing, in categories--what you see as what you should be doing, things you do for others that don't fit in your job description as you see it (things others should be doing but aren't), and show how (in so many words) you can do ten things half-arsed or five things really well. Then talk to the person (or people) who are overloading you and make them see that you'd really love to be doing all of this really well, but the laws of physics are in the way. Ask for suggestions as to how everything you're doing can be more reasonably apportioned amongst your coworkers.

There is danger in just suddenly denying requests when you've been silently acquiescent in the past, but so long as you allow yourself to be abused, the abuse will continue. Show them the data and ask for help.

A few thoughts:

I wear many hats, at least in terms that I support many organizations. I serve one function - data. Data gathering, programming as necessary, data analysis (usually SPC and Pareto), reporting, and training /mentoring. All with respect to data, all following Deming's SOPK.

People pretty well know what I am good at, and come to me to get their information. Being the "go-to" guy or gal is a very lucrative position.

I do keep (rigorously) a work log. All routine requests and who they are delievered to are recorded, all special requests are logged in and out. If anything, that is my major sanity preserver. And then if I am over-loaded (such as the beginning of the month), I do have documentation to go to the boss and ask for help, or more importantly, can establish a realistic delivery date with the customer.

I do say "yes" to all requests. Probably only about 10 to 20% of requests pan out into permanent products.

One key is automation - once something does become a permanent product, I automate it with visual basic or excel array formulae.

Also, with the documentation of what you are doing, you can negotiate for either another person to be hired to assist in the function (my employer is seriously considering that right now) or part time assistance (I have part time of a secretary who makes the facility level safety charts (several hundred control charts and Pareto charts) and enters data into a database from safety inspections.

I hope this example is of assistance.

:bigwave: THANKS to everyone!!! I really appreciate the advice, guidance and the concern. I guess I was really reaching out last week. There are so many posts! I have to go back and read everything slowly.

Funny, I do not feel depressed - just unusually overloaded. I have asked(in the past) why am I tasked with this project? The answer was that I will get it done and I will do right, and on-time. Maybe I need to not be so good! :lol:

:bigwave: THANKS to everyone!!! I really appreciate the advice, guidance and the concern. I guess I was really reaching out last week. There are so many posts! I have to go back and read everything slowly.

Funny, I do not feel depressed - just unusually overloaded. I have asked(in the past) why am I tasked with this project? The answer was that I will get it done and I will do right, and on-time. Maybe I need to not be so good! :lol:

Crusader,

Don't forget to enjoy that master piece you wrote about in this post (http://elsmar.com/Forums/showpost.php?p=233417&postcount=570)! :) Time flies and it never comes back.

Keep us posted on how you're doing at work this week.

All the best!

Stijloor.

a. I am drowning

Have you consulted your Health and Safety Manager regarding the status of your desk in the deep end of the pool and the lack of sufficient personal floatation devices?

b. I am tired of being the "person to call"

I actually set my phone to forward so it went right into voice mail. If they were really desparate, I was paged or emailed. Otherwise, they called someone else. If it wasn't an emergency, they left a message and I checked my voice every couple of hours...I also put black electrical tape over the bright red flashing light which screamed "youhavemessages! youhavemessages! youhavemessages!" with every flash.

c. I am not getting any of my own work done

Are you at least claiming and getting credit for doing everyone else's work? Of course, you could ask them - in a public place but in a somewhat joking manner - what THEY are doing since you are doing THEIR job. Always entertaining to watch them flounder for a bit instead of you.

d. (see b above) Now, I've become very irritable

Two words for you...foam bats. Or, since you're in that bullpen environment - I've lived in "Dilbertland" before, too - elastic band volleyball is entertaining. Riccocheting elastic bands off of the ceiling into someone else cubey is fun.

e. I talk to myself out loud more often (I've become more vulgar)

Are you offending yourself? If no, feel free to continue. Start to name the voices in your head. After all, they're people, too. Besides, then they'll know who you're talking to.

f. I am beginning to not sleep well at night

Two words for you...foam bats. Seriously, though, that's not good. I occasionally call upon my meditation techniques that I learned when I was in grade school. It's never too late to learn them, however. Walking the dog before bed helps to clear my head, too. Two more words...bubble bath!!!

g. I am never on the Cove anymore

And we miss you! This simply can go on longer! To deprive us of your presence is uncalled for!

h. I sometimes work during lunch because of sensitive material that is company-private. (can't work on it with others around in this bullpen area)

Is there a boardroom that you can temporarily claim as your own little batcave? That's what I do. I book it and shut the door.

i. I have to put up with idiots that should be fired for their lack of respect to the company and management[/quote]

You are in Dilbertland! Unfortunately, you will find these people everywhere and anywhere. Not much you can do except refuse to sink to their level. Justs remember:

You are stronger than them.
You are better than them.
You are human.


Last year, I reached a point where I lost track of my life and where things were going. In fact, one evening I was napping while waiting for a friend to call. He called around 8pm. I was so disoriented and stressed from work, I thought it was morning and was yelling at him for calling so early. I hung up on him, proceeded to get dressed for work and stood at the top of the stairs.

Staring at the stairs, I realized that I knew what they were and what I had to do, but could not, for the life of me, remember how to actually walk down a flight of stairs. I stood there, confused and unsure of what to do.

Instead, I returned to my bed, curled up and rocked back and forth.

Thankfully, my friend had a key to my house and came to check up on me.

You don't wish to reach that stage, Lee. It's time to take action. Set priorities...and I don't mean just in work areas. If you don't care of yourself, first, nothing else will get accomplished.

Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! Then make a list, including time estimates and POST IT where people can see it. When a new request comes in, you have a handy schedule that you can point to and say "gee, I can't get to that until (next week, next month, next year...)"

And stick to it. If the request comes from someone you can't turn down, ask them to decide which of their (your) current projects gets bumped, and have them get approval from the owner of the project they want to bump.

Be pleasant and helpful, smiling all the while you point them at the list (even as you are gritting your teeth).

Works for me. Hope it helps.

sheeplady

Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! Then make a list, including time estimates and POST IT where people can see it. When a new request comes in, you have a handy schedule that you can point to and say "gee, I can't get to that until (next week, next month, next year...)"

And stick to it. If the request comes from someone you can't turn down, ask them to decide which of their (your) current projects gets bumped, and have them get approval from the owner of the project they want to bump.

Be pleasant and helpful, smiling all the while you point them at the list (even as you are gritting your teeth).

Works for me. Hope it helps.

sheeplady

I found it also helped to post a sign that reads "Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine".

visualizing that beach helps with the "while smiling" part...

While many people have talked about prioritizing and saying no to some things, the really important thing is to prioritize around what is expected of your primary function. After all, you are there to help the company to the best of your ability. What functions are most valuable to the company? What generates value? Listing these primary functions and what is truly important as your job is your first concern. ALSO , be aware of S.A.D , as in seasonal affective disorder. This affects me tremendously, and if you work above the Mason-Dixon line, will affect you and the people you work with as well. This makes us all irritable during these long dark months.

A few thoughts on saying "no":

What is the loading of your job, and are there cycles to it? For example, for me, this week is going to be very quiet, at least until Friday (the 1st of the month). My job is definitely cyclical (due to monthly reporting expectations), and trying to achieve a more even loading over the month is a challenge. So, it behooves me to say "yes" to new work, but don't promise it until the end of the month.

Now, if your situation is you are overloaded to the point where there are not enough days in the year to do the work, you do have the following options:

1. Say no (actually I'd leave that as a last resort) to new work
2. Shed off "unneeded" routine work
3. Work overtime (preferably paid)
4. Look at your rework and try to reduce it
5. Look for efficiencies
6. Subcontract out. I actually have an arrangement with a fellow who works as a contract worker (lots of peaks and lulls), and if he gets overloaded on a peak, he pays me to do some of his work that I can do at home.

I am so bogged down with wearing so many hats in this company that:
a. I am drowning
b. I am tired of being the "person to call"
c. I am not getting any of my own work done
d. (see b above) Now, I've become very irritable
e. I talk to myself out loud more often (I've become more vulgar) :mg::nope:
f. I am beginning to not sleep well at night
g. I am never on the Cove anymore
h. I sometimes work during lunch because of sensitive material that is company-private. (can't work on it with others around in this bullpen area)
i. I have to put up with idiots that should be fired for their lack of respect to the company and management
and I could go on and on...:frust::frust::frust::frust::frust:

I cannot say "No." most of the time because my management assigns me to most of this stuff. I just cannot win.

When can I retire? :lol:



Sounds like someone needs to get back on a motorcycle and forget some of that stress . Leave it on the side of the road, and remember what it is like not having any.;)

Can I join you? :biglaugh:

You are more then welcome to join. :agree1:

I'm much better. Writing down the work load and trying to prioritize. But there is always that spur of the moment task. An unexpected one today: pickup the boss at the tire store then off to shop for an electric oven for the shop workers. I only missed 1 hour of work. The oven gets delivered tomorrow. No, I did not bring up the work load and why am I being a chauffeur today? I just don't ask anymore, but do as told/asked by my boss (2nd in command). The other day, I lost 2 hours of my work. I was asked to join a new product meeting (first time for me) with the owner of this company - now how could I say no? He's also my boss! I report directly to the owner and the 2nd in command and no one else.

I've become a duck this week and listened to ya'll for advice as well. I'm coping. This afternoon, chauffeuring again and will miss another hour.

Good thing is that I do not feel stressed or buried even though I am. I'm coping and enjoying my lunch break with the Cove.

I am so bogged down with wearing so many hats in this company that:
a. I am drowning
b. I am tired of being the "person to call"
c. I am not getting any of my own work done
d. (see b above) Now, I've become very irritable
e. I talk to myself out loud more often (I've become more vulgar) :mg::nope:
f. I am beginning to not sleep well at night
g. I am never on the Cove anymore
h. I sometimes work during lunch because of sensitive material that is company-private. (can't work on it with others around in this bullpen area)
i. I have to put up with idiots that should be fired for their lack of respect to the company and management
and I could go on and on...:frust::frust::frust::frust::frust:

I cannot say "No." most of the time because my management assigns me to most of this stuff. I just cannot win.

When can I retire? :lol:

I also change hats very often in my company. Do this Do that etc. etc etc.
but I feel that I am clean so whatever anyone says I am clean. I am confident.

Let's see here. I do the accounts receivables for three companies (all in one building and owned by one person) along with a lot of the quality for two of those companies (the other is a trucking company) and also most of the administrative work.

How do I cope? It's not that hard, except for dealing with the quality crap. I hate quality :lmao:

Finally, payoff. I was given a real office this week and I just finished getting settled in. I was recognized finally. Gimme another hat - I can do it for this type of reward! :cool:

Now I have to work on getting an assigned parking space! Ha!

Finally, payoff. I was given a real office this week and I just finished getting settled in. I was recognized finally. Gimme another hat - I can do it for this type of reward! :cool:

Now I have to work on getting an assigned parking space! Ha!

At last...progress! :applause: :applause:

Interesting developments. :agree1: Please keep us posted.

Stijloor.

At last...progress! :applause: :applause:

Interesting developments. :agree1: Please keep us posted.

Stijloor.

My boss came by to see how I was settling in and he jokingly (I hope!) said with a big smiley grin, "Wow, new office...no raise for you this year."

Keep in mind that "joking" allows us to say what we think without the other person "taking us seriously"......

My boss came by to see how I was settling in and he jokingly (I hope!) said with a big smiley grin, "Wow, new office...no raise for you this year."The proper response is,
"Absolutely! Just give me the company credit card to cover all my fuel and auto repair bills!"

(If the boss agrees, ask for a second card to cover your spouse, too, because he has to get along without you so much while you are being overworked on company business.)

The proper response is,
"Absolutely! Just give me the company credit card to cover all my fuel and auto repair bills!"

(If the boss agrees, ask for a second card to cover your spouse, too, because he has to get along without you so much while you are being overworked on company business.)


Ohhhh, I couldn't.

My boss came by to see how I was settling in and he jokingly (I hope!) said with a big smiley grin, "Wow, new office...no raise for you this year."

I would have asked for the parking space right then and there!:)

I would have asked for the parking space right then and there!:)

Oh yeah, don't worry. Wen he comes back in, I'll hit him with that! I have to catch him off-guard for the full effect! :lol:

Ohhhh, I couldn't.As we say in baseball, "If you don't step up to the plate to bat, you have no hope of getting to first base, let alone hitting a home run!"