Forums

Problem: My boss keeps handing me tasks which aren't my job and "delegating to the floor" is not an appreciated concept.

 
Although I have passion and skill for many tasks under my boss' scope, my position was created specifically to manage one project.... a very large project important to the board.
 
Halfway in to the buidling of my project, the director who hired me fell awry of the executive office and was replaced. I like the new director, and am inspired to rise to her expectations, but quite honestly, I can't keep up.
 
I was already working late nights and weekends to launch my project. Now we've launched, and the real work should begin with maintenance and improvements. But my boss keeps assigning me with non-project tasks. Worse, while I'm working on a lengthy task she's handed me, she hands me five more. When we sit in our weekly department meetings, she hands out tasks for the week, and *none* of them are related to my project at all. She doesn't even ask about what's involved in my project or what needs to be done for the project. I can't get anywhere close to catching up with everything she's handing me, let alone spend any time on my project.
 
I've attempted a couple of times to approach her with my concerns about being able to align my priorities  properly and manage my time effectively between the department needs and my project needs - but it was clear she has neither the time or the interest in micromanaging my schedule. 
 
I tried once going home 'almost' on time (15 minutes past the hour), only to be treated the next day with a reminder that we all need to set our schedule to the CEO's office - blah blah blah. As if I hadn't already proven myself in the two months prior since she walked in the door that I will work the hours necessary to get the job done. 
 
I understand her position. She's brand new and juggling more than one person should be able to handle. She's not asking me to do anything that she wouldn't expect of herself. I have always taken some pride in the fact that I have never, ever told anyone "that's not my job/department". But I've reached a point where for the first time in my career, I quite honestly feel like her problems are above my payscale. I miss my family, and I'm really, really tired. 
 
I feel like I'm falling into a bad attitude, and the last thing I want is to turn into the employee I hated when I was a manager. So, how do I get back on track with my project without completely ruining my relationship with my boss?

DPWade's picture

"handing me tasks which aren't my job"

This quote as well as repeated reference by you to "non-project tasks" makes me ask for some clarification.

A)How do you decide what is "your job"...I mean, is there a contract or job description to support this angle?

B) do you have staff or peers or team members which can be tapped for delegation?

-Dave

mzmiss's picture

 sigh, the day after I see how bad I sound ... but here it is

 
(1) Yes, I have a very specific project and job description. When I started, I inhertied a filing cabinet which included the proposal for my project in which it was determined that my project would indeed require a full time, permanent employee. Lucky me, it just happened to be exactly the thing I love to do.
 
Despite being quick at work and having a talent for finding ways to automate, there's still 40+ hours of work to do each week. What's Mark say ... "resource restrained is a good thing"?
 
(2) No directs for me, my project involves working with outside agencies and aligning other department managers/directors.
 
There's a handful of others in the department, but they're tapped out too. It's exciting! New boss comes in and is really propelling our company forward with all this new production, but ... well, here I am.

DPWade's picture

While I generally agree with "find a way to get it done" (Massive Workload Increase Casts), for individual contributors that can prove their 60 hours per week are full already, I have had success showing how the load increase in addition to that, will suffer lack of results on the first level priorities.  That is, provided it is strictly presented with hard Data and not just my opinion or attitude. 

-Dave

melissas's picture

point well taken :)

I'll polish up the ol' reports and fix up a better attitude. 

mfculbert's picture

Have you analyzed your DISC profile and your new boss's profile?

If you are a C or maybe an S and your boss is a D or I you may have a quality tolerance issue. As an S I am working hard to accept lower quality in order to keep up with the demands of my workplace. It make me pretty uneasy but it is in the best interest of the company and my sanity. 

morelock's picture

Maybe you could clarify the priority streams. 

If you were hired to do one project and one project only, then how is it that your boss doesn't care about the completion of that project?  Who else do you report to about the completion of your project?  Who would notice if you didn't do it?  Is it possible that organizational priorities have changed, and that your project is no longer an organizational priority now that your previous boss is no longer in favor?  It seems that would be a hard pill to swallow because it's what you love to do.  You mention that it is a priority to the board.  Do you have a matrix situation where you have another boss that might be able to explain your predicament to?