What To Do When Your Boss Messes with Your Workload

What To Do When Your Boss Messes with Your WorkloadWhat To Do When Your Boss Messes with Your WorkloadWhat To Do When Your Boss Messes with Your WorkloadHeres a scenario Your babo emails you about a project she wants to hand over to you, one that had always been her responsibility. Adding insult to injury, its not even part of your regular job. (Example Youre a graphic designer who makes print ads, and your boss wants you to write press releases...wheres the connection?).She wants you to do this because shes swamped with other, mora important things (not because its part of your workload, or because itll benefit or challenge you). The problem here? Youre just as swamped as she is, and cant see how youll be able to fit this new project into your schedule.This is where prioritizing your workload becomes hugely important. You know youre swamped, but you dont know exactly how bogged down you are unless you have a clear outline that proves it. By outlining your priorities, you can determi ne if you can handle this new project, or if you have to push back and ask your boss to come up with another solution. Heres howCreate a list of everything youre working on, plus everything youve been tasked to do as soon as you finish those projects.Note how long each task will take you to complete, then try to find some wiggle room in the list. It helps to know when the new project needs to be completed, along with an estimate of how much time itll suck out of your day(s). Your boss should be able to provide that information.If you cant find a good place for it, and you dont have the power to decide if you can delay another project in favor of completing the new one, youll have to request your bosss input. Send her the list you created above and simply ask Where do you think this fits in so I can properly prioritize my projects?With luck, youll get a thoughtful response and your boss will have settled the prioritization for you. Otherwise, shell tell you to use your best judgment and youre back to step 2. In that case, youll just have to suck it up and make it work