We have to do something about crazy schedules! But please don’t give us something else to do.
Anyone who tries to work at 100% capacity for 100% of the time will go nuts!
What do you do when work is crazy and you don’t have time to make it better?
#1. Stop something.
The last thing you need is more to do when your schedule is nuts. What might you stop doing?
Stopping is harder than starting.
#2. One update email:
Send your boss a Friday afternoon report. Briefly describe the week’s projects and your plans for next week. Just a sentence or two for top items.
- Keep it relevant and very brief.
- Begin with, “I thought it might be helpful for you and me to review the week and describe the priorities for next week.”
- Close with, “Please drop a note if you have feedback. I plan to focus on what matters most. Have a great weekend.”
- P.S. – No response needed unless you have feedback or suggestions.
- Make it an information email, no complaining, explaining, or politicking.
(Yes, there is more to do. But this is helpful for you and your boss.)
#3. Establish new rules for meetings.
Focus on things within your control when work is crazy.
At your next team meeting say, “I’d like us to:
- “… shorten all our meetings to 45 minutes or less. Any thoughts or suggestions?”
- “… cancel any meeting if we don’t have an agenda the day before the meeting’s date…?
- “… stop inviting everyone to meetings. …” When someone regularly leaves meetings without a new assignment, they didn’t need to attend the meeting. Give them the minutes or a brief report.
- “… use the two medium pizza rule. Any group that can’t be fed with two medium pizzas is too large for a meeting. The number is five to seven. Fewer is better.
What suggestions do you have for getting a grip when work is nuts?
Which of the above suggestions seems most practical for you?
See part two: GETTING A GRIP WHEN WORK IS NUTS PT. 1
