At work, how do you let your manager know how busy you are?

j123vt_99 · 03-01-07, 10:50 AM

So I started a new job about 5 months ago and things are going well. I've been assigned to a new job that basically makes me the main contact point/point of responsibility. My manager oversees a couple of different people but is also pretty busy herself. I certainly want to keep her up to date on how busy I am and how good a job I'm doing, but I feel weird if I just swing by her cube and let her know. How can I let her know that I'm doing a good job, things are under control, but busy? (basically give myself a pat on the back without making it super obvious)

BuddhaWake · 03-01-07, 10:58 AM

I think I may have gotten in trouble the other day by saying that the workload was too much and pointless when they could go for higher acuracy of completion and less output. then I said that the big brass managers were idiots and got their managing skills from the back of a cereal box. In other words is better to keep your mouth shut which is my recomendation. If you go over you risk the chance of them giving you even more work because you are doing a good job and can rely on you even for last minute things. Of course I work for the government so is not the real world. plus the more you care the more they screw you over.

nodeerforamonth · 03-01-07, 11:02 AM

Budda's right. Last time I mentioned my workload, the boss said "What's wrong with you? Can't you do two things at once?!!??!" Of course I was doing about 6 things at once and since he's so out of the loop, he doesn't know about all the other projects I'm doing or all the retarded questions I'm spending my time answering all day.

If you are working off hours, you can always send an e-mail out (cc-ing your boss) stating what projects you finished.

j123vt_99 · 03-01-07, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuddhaWake

I think I may have gotten in trouble the other day by saying that the workload was too much and pointless when they could go for higher acuracy of completion and less output. then I said that the big brass managers were idiots and got their managing skills from the back of a cereal box. In other words is better to keep your mouth shut which is my recomendation. If you go over you risk the chance of them giving you even more work because you are doing a good job and can rely on you even for last minute things. Of course I work for the government so is not the real world. plus the more you care the more they screw you over.

That's actually a good point about if you are doing a good job, you will just get overloaded

WallyOPD · 03-01-07, 11:08 AM

Do you have any regular meetings with her and do you have specific performance objectives? I have a pretty good relationship with my boss so he knows what I'm working on most of the time but I also track everything I do and how it impacts my objectives. My performance reviews are pretty much me bringing in documentation to show my boss how awesome I am. Makes his job and my job a lot easier.

Vibiana · 03-01-07, 11:16 AM

I keep three or four DVDTalk Forum screens open on the computer.

GreenEggs248 · 03-01-07, 12:02 PM

They have a ticketing system here. They can tell how many issues we verified.

wendersfan · 03-01-07, 12:15 PM

Yeah, right.

4KRG · 03-01-07, 12:18 PM

I would go with STFU and don't say anything until something is said to you

tropicana · 03-01-07, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenEggs248

They have a ticketing system here. They can tell how many issues we verified.

it doesnt go well with the beer and pingpong table in your break room

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4KRG

I would go with STFU and don't say anything until something is said to you

yea i agree, but most managers are poor with the recognition unless they somehow come across an outcome. if you wait...you might be waiting forever

ANDREMIKE · 03-01-07, 12:32 PM

You could send her a weekly report. Give her updates on various things you are working on. When she sees that you are not doing enough work, she may ask you, or give you more...

Fincher Fan · 03-01-07, 12:58 PM

Keep jars of your own urine on your desk. It will show you are too busy to even go to the bathroom.

DVDsAreMyLIFE · 03-01-07, 01:22 PM

Don't get caught reading this site while you are supposed to be working.

-Tyler

devilshalo · 03-01-07, 01:41 PM

The less they know what I'm doing, the better, as long as I'm getting it done.

kbmagic · 03-01-07, 01:51 PM

I agree with Andremike -- send her weekly synopsis reports of the activities you've completed each week. My chart has a place for daily activities, and a place at the bottom for 'outstanding issues' and a place for issues I need my manager's input on. It works for me....

DVDsAreMyLIFE · 03-01-07, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbmagic

I agree with Andremike -- send her weekly synopsis reports of the activities you've completed each week. My chart has a place for daily activities, and a place at the bottom for 'outstanding issues' and a place for issues I need my manager's input on. It works for me....

I guess it really depends on how your company runs. Where I work, you usually just get your stuff done. If it is done then they know you are working, if not then they can question you about, might not always be your fault. Just get your shit done, on time and make it quality work and you should be fine.

-Tyler

Pressplay · 03-01-07, 02:04 PM

Buy that "forever smoking" fake cup of coffee and leave it on your desk at all times.

milo bloom · 03-01-07, 05:00 PM

It's my experience, that if they don't know on their own, then they won't care if you bring it up. My current manager is well aware of my recent workload (helping another department), so he'll defend me to other departments, but he'll also keep me honest privately.

03-01-07, 10:50 AM	#1
j123vt_99 DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 8,757	At work, how do you let your manager know how busy you are? So I started a new job about 5 months ago and things are going well. I've been assigned to a new job that basically makes me the main contact point/point of responsibility. My manager oversees a couple of different people but is also pretty busy herself. I certainly want to keep her up to date on how busy I am and how good a job I'm doing, but I feel weird if I just swing by her cube and let her know. How can I let her know that I'm doing a good job, things are under control, but busy? (basically give myself a pat on the back without making it super obvious) __________________ j123vt_99 that was so one page ago - General Zod sometimes all it takes is a slammin' hottie to make you dig down deep and discover who you really are - Scrubs

03-01-07, 10:58 AM	#2
BuddhaWake DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: currently Philly originally from Puerto Rico Posts: 2,666	I think I may have gotten in trouble the other day by saying that the workload was too much and pointless when they could go for higher acuracy of completion and less output. then I said that the big brass managers were idiots and got their managing skills from the back of a cereal box. In other words is better to keep your mouth shut which is my recomendation. If you go over you risk the chance of them giving you even more work because you are doing a good job and can rely on you even for last minute things. Of course I work for the government so is not the real world. plus the more you care the more they screw you over. __________________ 2009 Horror 2010 B Movie / Make Your Own / Historical 2011 B Movie / Make Your Own / Historical/ Horror 2012 B Movie / Make Your Own / Historical / Horror 2013 B Movie / Make Your Own

03-01-07, 11:02 AM	#3
nodeerforamonth DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 7,318	Budda's right. Last time I mentioned my workload, the boss said "What's wrong with you? Can't you do two things at once?!!??!" Of course I was doing about 6 things at once and since he's so out of the loop, he doesn't know about all the other projects I'm doing or all the retarded questions I'm spending my time answering all day. If you are working off hours, you can always send an e-mail out (cc-ing your boss) stating what projects you finished. __________________ "Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad." -nodeerforamonth

03-01-07, 11:16 AM	#6
Vibiana DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Living in a van down by the river Posts: 11,083	I keep three or four DVDTalk Forum screens open on the computer. __________________ Vibiana hooks up with chicks, she's more of a winner than most of the internet. -- mndtrp "If everyone you know is doing it, the only thing to do is rush into a marriage. It'll turn out great so don't worry about it." -- Jules Winfield

03-01-07, 12:02 PM	#7
GreenEggs248 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Big-D Posts: 273	They have a ticketing system here. They can tell how many issues we verified. __________________ Have you seen my brown eyed flip girl?

03-01-07, 11:08 AM	#5
WallyOPD DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 7,543	Do you have any regular meetings with her and do you have specific performance objectives? I have a pretty good relationship with my boss so he knows what I'm working on most of the time but I also track everything I do and how it impacts my objectives. My performance reviews are pretty much me bringing in documentation to show my boss how awesome I am. Makes his job and my job a lot easier.

03-01-07, 12:15 PM	#8
wendersfan Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Where homophobes don't get slut sauce Posts: 28,280	Yeah, right. __________________ "Fifth Element may be as dumb and artless as Johnny Mnemonic, but since a frenchman made it it must be ART!" -Pants "...I think it's a low blow to draw attention to wendersfan's drunken state. " - dork "Just because their victims are still alive doesn't mean they didn't commit murder." - grundle "You concentrate on the sad wanna be hooliganism and let us worry about the actual soccer." - rocketsauce (final score: Columbus 2-Chicago 1)

03-01-07, 12:18 PM	#9
4KRG DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 15,444	I would go with STFU and don't say anything until something is said to you

03-01-07, 12:32 PM	#11
ANDREMIKE DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,012	You could send her a weekly report. Give her updates on various things you are working on. When she sees that you are not doing enough work, she may ask you, or give you more... __________________ Mike

03-01-07, 12:58 PM	#12
Fincher Fan DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rampaging across DVDTalk. Posts: 4,046	Keep jars of your own urine on your desk. It will show you are too busy to even go to the bathroom. __________________ *"You couldn't molest the audience more than to promise Legends of the Fall* and Driving Miss Daisy then to unleash this on them. They'd just been gang-raped."** - Director David Fincher on the test screenings of Seven.

03-01-07, 01:22 PM	#13
DVDsAreMyLIFE DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,229	Don't get caught reading this site while you are supposed to be working. -Tyler

03-01-07, 01:41 PM	#14
devilshalo DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell Posts: 24,268	The less they know what I'm doing, the better, as long as I'm getting it done. __________________ Oh, don't be the victim. Don't make up excuses because you're a dumbass. - Lynda Thompson

03-01-07, 01:51 PM	#15
kbmagic Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Just this side of paradise... Posts: 711	I agree with Andremike -- send her weekly synopsis reports of the activities you've completed each week. My chart has a place for daily activities, and a place at the bottom for 'outstanding issues' and a place for issues I need my manager's input on. It works for me.... __________________ I'm not '40-something' I'm 39.95 plus shipping and handling!

03-01-07, 02:04 PM	#17
Pressplay DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,447	Buy that "forever smoking" fake cup of coffee and leave it on your desk at all times. __________________ “"Hello, fellow American. This you should vote me. I leave power good. Thank you. Thank you. If you vote me, I'm hot..." - What? - "Taxes, they'll be lower...son. The democratic vote for me is right thing to do, Philadelphia, so do."

03-01-07, 05:00 PM	#18
milo bloom DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2001 Location: Chicago suburbs Posts: 10,058	It's my experience, that if they don't know on their own, then they won't care if you bring it up. My current manager is well aware of my recent workload (helping another department), so he'll defend me to other departments, but he'll also keep me honest privately. __________________ OAR (Original Aspect Ratio) is not about more image, or less image. It's about the right image. DVDAf Spinehunting - picking up used Criterion DVDs.