Working for a WorkaholicWhen Youre Not One

Working for a WorkaholicWhen Youre Not OneWorking for a Workaholic- When Youre Not OneWe all have addictions. For some, its shoes, Groupon, or Reeses Pieces. For me, its all three- particularly in stressful situations. And, for most of my past baboes, it was work- which left me broke in Tory Burch, buried under daily deals, and 10 pounds heavier.And looking back I wouldnt change a thing. Why? Because having a workaholic boss is the fastest way to advance in your career and enhance your personal life- if you can survive. But if I can, so can you. Heres how I made itKnow Your LimitsWhen youre settling into a new position, its easy to set goals for yourself- both in terms of the things you want to accomplish and the schedule youre willing to work in order to do so. But, after youve been there for a while, its just as easy to get swept up in the list of a million priorities, the get it done yesterday mindset, and the unreasonable hours kept by your work-addicted boss.So, if youre startin g to feel overloaded, step back and take time to consider whats realistic for you. Do you find yourself working late because you want to or because you have to? Are you able and comfortable with being available to your employer at night and on weekends? Where can you give in- and whats getting in the way of you having a balanced life outside of work?You should also consider the font of work youre doing. If youre gaining theskills and experiences you need in order to be promoted or advance in your career, you might be willing to put in more hours than if youre doing menial work.It can be hard to determine the right limits here- its different for every workplace, industry, and person. Id say the occasional late night is as common as coffee in the office, but when you find yourself working until 1 AM at home too anxious to sleep because you only have a handful of hours left before you have to wake up and do it all over again, thats a ruby red flag.Set Boundaries If you realize youve go t a serious threat to your work-life nirvana on your hands, its time to speak up. Your boss isnt a mind reader, so neither mental messages nor passive aggressive emails are going to work.No, this will require you to put on your big-girl blouse and call a meeting. This doesnt mean you need to walk in, guns blazing- this just means you need to have your facts checked and laid out. Time is valuable to workaholic-bosses, so the brde thing you want to do is waste it.Before walking into this meeting, make sure youve tracked your time spent on projects (hey, no one can argue with math), especially any that dont align with your agreed-upon goals.Make sure that you convey your willingness to do the work, but that because youre spread so thin, the work is suffering.Its also important to not only point out problems, but to have solutions ready to propose. The last thing you want is to seem like youre complaining or the opposite of a team player. For example, if the problem is that the workload is unevenly distributed among you and your peers, make a list of the projects youre handling in comparison to your co-workers, then give some suggestions on how you could divvy up some of those extra projects to lighten your load to a manageable amount. Make sure your points always go back to the work and your concern for it being done, and being done well.Go Full Speed Until COBAfter a talk like that, youre going to want to show your boss that you can get your work done- and youdont have to work at all hours of the night to accomplish the priorities put in front of you. So, when youre at work, make it count. Once you walk through that door in the morning, race to that 5 oclock schliff line like its the Triple Crown and that jockey next to you is inching ahead. Just think, the carrot youre after is an evening free to do as you please- a sweet treat compared to the mounds of spreadsheets youre used to lugging home. Keep moving down your to-do list, making your progress known, and ma king your results count to prove that your balanced schedule doesnt mean less productivity.Stick to Your GunsAfter youve made it clear what your boundaries are- for example, no nights and weekends- its crucial that you push back when limits are being pushed again. Remember, your boss isnt tracking your time, so its up to you. She will work you as much and as hard as you allow it- maybe assuming youre a workaholic like she is, or that you dont mind the work just like she doesnt- and unfortunately, sometimes itll take projects not being done perfectly and on time in order for her to realize that youre overworked.This doesnt mean that you should purposely drop projects or mishandle them. It just means that there are only a certain amount of hours in a day that most human beings can function properly, so if mistakes are made or projects get left on the back burner because your head is spinning, dont get upset with yourself. If your boss is angry as a result, this is the perfect opportun ity for you to discuss your workload (again). This isnt easy, but its definitely a growth opportunity worth working through.Learn to Toughen Up or Bow OutBy following the steps above, one of two things will happen Youll either work out a schedule that meets both yours and your bosss needs, leading to a harmonious working relationship, or youll realize that the demands of the job and the expectations of your employer arent a match with what youre looking for. Remember that any job position is a mutual decision. Dont just think about it in terms of your employers happiness with your performance- take the time to ask yourself if youre happy, too.And, after youve had a direct conversation with your boss to fix the problem, and youve done your part in making the necessary changes you discussed, and the answer is still no- then its time to move on to the next opportunity that awaits. This time, youll know exactly what youre looking for in company culture and a new manager.Working for a wo rkaholic if youre not one isnt the end of the world. On the contrary, its the beginning of an incredible opportunity to learn your limits, find your balance, and carve your niche at your current company or find a new employer thats a better fit for your work style. Its easier said than done, of course, and at least a few tears, ripped hair, and gnawed nails are inevitable. But remember, there are always heels, group deals, and chocolate-peanut-butter bliss to get you through it. Believe me, if I can, you can.Photo courtesy of Alan Cleaver.