Tell Your Boss You Have Too Much Work Without Complaining

Tell Your Boss You Have Too Much Work Without Complaining How to Tell Your Boss You Have Too Much Work Without ComplainingYoure not a complainer, but you are overworked.Your week, month, or maybe even quarter is already jam-packed with assignments and projects. Each time your manager approaches your desk, you cringe, wondering whatll be dropped into your lap next. Although you desperately want to scream Enough already, you dont want to seem lazy or selfish. You simply need a more reasonable workload.To be fair, many managers wont realize youre overworked until you voice your concerns. After all, theyre (hopefully) not hovering over your computer all day or keeping long lists of your every assignment. That means that if your plate is overflowing, you need to speak up to get things to change. Here are a few steps to take to tactfully address the fact that you simply have too much work.Step 1 Seek adviceBefore approaching your manager, find someone you trust. A second opinion can be e xtremely insightful, whether its from a co-worker, a family member, or a friend.Be honest with them and yourself. Ask questions like Is this timeline realistic? and Am I managing my time correctly? The goal is to challenge yourself and gain an outsiders perspective to determine if youre truly overworked. Sometimes, the unfortunate fact is that youre just going to have to work more than youd like. Its when work starts to disrupt your personal life that this becomes an issue.If at the end of this trusted conversation you find you really are overworked, chat through ways to remedy the issue yourself. If youve already tried every trick in the book (or on Google), youll want to continue to step two.Step 2 Host an honest sit-downIf youve done everything you can to alleviate your excessive workload but are still drowning in assignments, its time to consult with your manager. Schedule a time for the two of you to catch up.To prepare, outline your list of assignments. A quick word of warnin g when doing this Dont be petty. You dont need to include the built-in responsibilities of your day like checking emails or responding to Slack messages everyone has to do that. Simply list your assigned tasks.During this meeting, be honest and seek guidance. Ask your manager to help you prioritize. Are there certain deadlines that are more important than others? Is a client expecting one project before another? This will help you map out a plan of attack and feel more confident moving forward with your workload.Step 3 Re-evaluate your time usageIn that same meeting with your manager, re-evaluate how much time you spend on routine responsibilities.Some obvious time-suckers might emerge, so ask how much time your manager expects you to spend on each of those projects. Should that monthly spreadsheet really take two days to prepare? If so, great. If not, rethink your strategy. Ask What do you suggest I do instead?In the same vein, if your company favors meetings, take some time to co mb through your calendar and address those recurring ones. Do you find these meetings beneficial? Are you contributing? Are you the only one who can represent the team? If not, see if someone else can attend or if your department actually needs to attend at all.Now, if your manager isnt receptive to steps two and three and responds in a suck-it-up fashion, then keep reading.RelatedProductivity Tips That Really WorkStep 4 Prioritize your tasksAt this point, youve already made a list of your assignments. If you havent already, organize it by deadline. Plan to keep this list at your desk and update it on a daily or weekly basis.The next time your manager pops over to deliver you another assignment, pause for a moment. Ask Where should this fit in with my ongoing tasks?Let your manager see whats on your plate. Its a respectful nudge to them that youve already got a lot going on. Sure, youre still taking on another task however, you now can take a practical approach because you know wha t needs to be accomplished first, second, third, and so on.Step 5 Say noIf you simply cannot handle another task and your manager isnt receptive to the above steps, youll need to learn how to say no.If youre the type of person who always says yes, especially in the workplace, this will feel uncomfortable at first. However, there are simple strategies you can use to let your manager down easyStrategy 1 Buy yourself time. When your manager asks you to tackle another project, buy yourself time before making the decision right then and there. Even if you know you cannot possibly handle one more thing, take a few hours to consider it. This seems more thoughtful than immediately saying no. Say something like I really have a lot on my plate right now. I can let you know this afternoon if this is possible.Strategy 2 Provide a proactive solution. Instead of outright shutting your manager down, try to provide a way to get the task done without overworking yourself. It could be that your co-wo rkers workload is a little lighter, so maybe he or she can help out. (You might want to consult with them first, though.) Or perhaps you can take on part of the assignment the other half can go to the co-worker. Even if your proposed solution isnt the answer to the problem, you at least seem proactive and like you want to provide a solution.In summaryThe simple fact is that many of us will feel overworked at some points throughout our careers. Its when work starts digging into your personal life that it becomes an issue.Just remember Before requesting a meeting with your manager, be aya to convene with a trusted cohort. Make sure youre actually overworked not just overwhelmed.If you are overworked, meet with your manager and have an honest conversation. Seek advice. Be open-minded. Is there anything you could be doing differently? If your manager is unreceptive, youll have to tackle the issue yourself and try saying no. Of course, if it gets too bad, know there are more career oppo rtunities out there. Youre never stuck.Click on the following link for more workplace advice.Take something off your to-do list. Let TopResume review your resume for freeRecommended Reading12 Tips for Dealing With Workplace Stress8 Steps to Achieving Work-Life BalanceHow to Stay Motivated at WorkRelated Articles