Many modern day collaborators seem to complain of task overload. Some even say that their bosses keep throwing additional tasks at them when they demonstrate abulity and efficiency. It seems that bosses keep pushing the borders and as a result often deprive themselves from the services of very competent colaborators who prefer to leave the job for the sake of well-being. Have you experienced anything similar in your Professional life? if so how did you manage it?
We can manage task overload by:
1. Planning the activities
2. Prioritizing the activities
3. Delegating routine activities
Thanks for the question, Mohamed. I will answer it in the form of my next question regarding the ability or the need for massive task overloading. Good Day 19 Aug, 2017 8.37 AM, ND, India
Patience, Hope and seriousness in carrying load, with sincerety makes easy in hanling tasks.
FOLLOW THE ONGOING CONFERENCE AT MY HOME PAGE ON RESEARCHGATE. 19 AUG, 2017 10.35 A.M.
How do you manage task overload?
Think firstly we need to understand the root cause before applying any solution. E.g. is it because:
If the staff is competent, the boss should know the implication of loading him / her with more workload e.g. s/he might resign or join other company that pay better, or with reasonable workload etc. The boss should neutralize the overload with some benefits in return e.g. better pay, promotion, autonomy, simply shift some workloads to others so that the competent staff is still productive etc.
Thank you Dr. Mohamed for your invitation. I manage task overload by working harder and harder. A good lmanager can work better under pressure of work.
Dear Mohamed,
Actually the key is good planning, logistics, work organization, flexibility and creativity about new tasks. Furthermore good and flexible research teams and the ability to stop work and rest at times of heavy overload. The key is also reasonable balance with private life and spouse empathetic support. I am a multi-tasker myself but fortunately work in research teams with colleagues (from other universities) who are also multi-taskers and have a flexible approach to research projects and their day-to-day implementation. I would say that creativity, flexibility and the ability to know own personality preferences, potentials and limitations are also crucial.
We can manage task overload by:
1. Planning the activities
2. Prioritizing the activities
3. Delegating routine activities
Usually managing host of activities (overload) will always befall on a manager ( Principal or head of the department in case of academic institutions). To avoid possible tensions, I feel the following are apt ones.
1. Feel your self as first among equals among your subordinates. This state of mind, delegation of duties across your coworkers becomes easy.
2. When you encounter a new kind of a work, manager should start doing it first and show it to the group the way to go with the work.
3.If there is a work to be done exclusively by a manager himself, do it yourself. Do not delegate it to others.
I agree with Prof Kundu adding in Prioritizing the activities through FIFO principle (First In First Out)
1.Prioritising tasks would be the best way -but
2.If you are keen on delivering in the area of research as well as in the area of teaching
this is not at all easy.Devising a Marking Sheet which explains to students why/how they have got the mark they have does help to save time on marking - but can leave some students feel they have not been given sufficient feedback. Always indicate a time/date on which they can come back to you for more feedback after the stress of exams etc is past.
It is common in modern society. The great role I have learned, adding to other answers that were useful, is to consider "20/ 80" role and "Eat the frog" role. It is completely a miracle! search it up and you will find it in details, if not, I will be pleased to define and explanation it.
P.S. : Brian Tracy and Darren Hardy have great books for this issue.
Well - to be honest - tasks are managing me. At the moment I do about 30 (unpaid) jobs. And most likely it will get worse and worse...
Best Regards
Andreas
I endorse all contributions made thus far. I can only add that you have to be able to discern what is "genuine" work from "busy" work and decline the latter wherever possible. When you decline because you have already committed your time and resources to other projects, provide an alternative suggestion as to how the task can be accomplished.
For example, I was recently asked to produce a report on blended learning implementation for my department but had to decline as explained above. I did suggest that in an upcoming conference hosed by my department that a Blended Learning competition can be added to the conference that would capture the BL implementation across the three campuses for the University, which could give a realistic picture of its implementation. Regrettably, I never got an acknowledgement to the e-mail, but at least I offered an alternative.
Best regards,
Debra
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