What To Do When Work Feels Overwhelming
Strategies for Coping with a Heavy Workload
The most important thing to do is to calmly and clearly identify the exact nature of the situation:
Is the situation temporary or permanent? If it's temporary, decide how long you believe you can reasonably tough it out, and communicate that to your supervisor in a positive way, for example: "It's exciting that we just won this new account/order; I'm happy to put in X amount of overtime hours for X amount of weeks/months, but beyond that I know I'm going to get burnt out; is there a long term solution in the works?" If there is a solution, then you have light at the end of the tunnel. If there is no solution, then you have to decide what to do about it; if your choice is to remain in that position, it's best to do so with resolve and character so that your reputation continues to grow and you don't shut out future opportunities at the company because of your attitude on the matter.
What positive outcomes have resulted? Perhaps by working more hours you are either making or saving more money than before. Perhaps you have had to learn a new machine or process; anytime you can learn a new skill at work, this only serves to make you a more valuable and well-rounded employee; embrace any opportunity to improve your skillset! Focus on the benefits of the situation, and encourage people around you to do the same, because when you shift your focus, you literally shift your reality as well.
Take an exact measurement of the situation. How many units were you producing before things changed, and how many units are you producing now? If your job deals with construction, how much square footage were you working through in a day (i.e. painting, flooring, mowing, etc.) and how much square footage are you working through now? Knowing this specific information about exactly how much you stepped up your game in response to a new challenge can make you stand out as a top performer; top performers are far more likely to succeed than people who complain but remain at essentially the same level of output as before. Once you have the exact measurement of how you have improved your own production, you can potentially take that to your supervisor and ask for a pay increase or some other added benefit that will keep you motivated and successful in the "new normal".
Next week, we'll look at the second common issue that causes trouble in the workplace, dealing with coworkers who are disengaged or difficult, and we will investigate some strategies to help you continue to move your career forward in spite of the typical disagreements that may arise.
Barracuda Staffing, Inc. cares about your success: check back next week for more tips on increasing your satisfaction in the workplace, and remember that one of the best things to have on your resume is Job Stability; however, if you are looking for a new place to spread your wings and grow into a leader in your department, we invite you to browse our current openings in Tulsa and surrounding areas, call to talk to a Recruiter, or simply submit your resume online today!