Dear EDN,
I recently joined an organization and I’m having a tough time with my motivation levels. I have the tendency to pitch in and make sure the work gets done, which is what is expected of us, since most of the work is shared. I’m finding that many of my coworkers won’t take on work and will wait for management to ask them to complete tasks. Many times management will ask me to complete tasks, since I don’t resist. I feel like I’m fairly new and still learning, so it feels uncomfortable to be the “go-to” person so early on. I understand that management will come to me because I’m reliable, but how do I ask management to hold my coworkers accountable? How do I communicate this without seeming like I am complaining about my workload or throwing my coworkers under the bus? I don’t want to experience burnout so soon. Help!
Dear “Over it”,
First off, we can truly empathize with wanting to pitch in and be a team player, but not wanting to be taken advantage of. It’s a tough position to be in, especially in the beginning of your tenure at a new organization. We were able to garner some great feedback and we wanted to share with you.
It’s them, not me
A lot of times we may feel overwhelmed at work. We may assume that tasks are being ignored, due to laziness or lack of motivation, but we’re not sure what our coworkers have on their plate. If your position requires you to work on individual special projects, try not to assume that your coworkers aren’t busy doing something else. In order to determine this, just simply ask management. This is important to do if you are feeling bombarded with tasks that require people to pitch in, along with assigned tasks. Openly communicating that you’re busy working on something, or asking if anyone else could help out is a good way to relieve some of the pressure.
Work-Life Balance
Many organizations offer various types of flexible schedules, such as: teleworking, 4-day work weeks, virtual/remote positions etc. Inquiring about these types of schedules is not uncommon and your employer will let you know if there is a probationary period that you have to complete before you can sign up. Having a flexible schedule allows you to avoid your commute and work from home or even a coffee shop. Having days off during the workweek also allows you the opportunity to rest or run errands. Having a healthy work-life balance decreases feelings of burnout and increases productivity levels.
Transparent Communication
Organizations generally take time to evaluate their employees. Some organizations do it multiple times a year. During these moments it is important to express your concerns and ask any questions regarding the delegation of tasks. It’s also a great time to recommend better ways the productivity levels can increase, so the responsibilities are shared, and no one person feels burdened or overwhelmed. Having these open and candid conversations will hopefully be received in a positive way and management will look into rethinking the way work is divided and how to prevent burnout and turnover.
We wish you the best of luck and hope that your efforts are appreciated!