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Senior level manager in a large corporation. A small group of the other managers at my peer level are not as productive as I am. I admit my productivity is probably higher than average, but I'm constantly frustrated by feeling like I'm pulling a heavier load than my peers. My peers lack of action impacts me, so I pick up where I can to help, but quickly become overwhelmed. Our director seems to be at least aware of it, but I see no corrective action that is working. I'm looking for some strategies here.
1. Try to influence my peers to help out without telling them they aren't helping.
2. Confront my director to insist that something be done to better manage my peers contribution.
3. Other?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Get used to it?
So you are more productive than your peers and you find it frustrating? If you are successful you will probably encounter this throughout your career. Better either get used to it or find a way to deal with it. I think we need more detail around the kind of work you do and the types of things you have to pick up from your peers to really help, but I'll give it a try:
A very smart executive director once told me that if you can give your peers effective coaching and feedback you will be very successful. In general, I think that is what you need to do here. There's a peer feedback model on this site - listen to it and apply it where appropriate. Listen to the peer one-on-one casts as well - if you don't have good relationships with them you aren't going to be able to influence them very well. Read "Influence: Science and Practice" as it will help you with negotiating with your peers. Keep your boss up to date on most of what you are doing and ask him for advice, but don't make a big deal out of it and don't complain or whine about your workload or your peer productivity.
...under no circumstances should you act on your #2 bullet above. I'm not sure if you put that in as bait for an answer, but I can't think of a situation where that would ever be a good idea. Would you really consider "confronting" your boss with a "demand"? What's your response if he says 'No.' ? Giving your boss an ultimatum is a good way to get fired, or at least labeled "naive, presumptuous, and not ready for promotion"
-Jib
Could it be your perception?
Hard to say without more specifics. I ask because I have a direct who frequently expresses frustration to me about her peers (my other directs) and others in the company. She sincerely believes that she more than carries her weight, and others are slacking. However, she is wrong most of the time. I'm not saying you're wrong, because of course I can't know that. But is it possible that you don't see or understand all that your peers are doing?