October 20, 2014 at 8:16 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item When Work Gets in the Way of Work
October 21, 2014 at 1:18 am
When I started work in this industry in 1992 there was more work than could often be achieved in a standard working day and there were few days where there was any slack allowing for any form of catch up. Nowadays I feel that the time pressures are even greater.
Am I "looking back through rose tinted glasses"? Were those halcyon days? Was it simply that I was more productive in my youth? Did I have less of a workload as a junior?
No. I don't think so. I think that over time businesses have pushed more and more for 100% usage of workers time as though we were on a factory floor. This leaves no time for input into anything beyond the tasks assigned. No time for assisting in other areas of the business without charging to their cost center. In short, no time for the creativity that would have been sought in the interview for the position.
Without some slack we are forcing staff either into becoming a semi-intelligent workforce or burnout victims. We are now seeing a generation of people joining the industry where they will get their creative kicks outside the workplace and will get their work/life balance the way they want it even at a financial cost to themselves. Business beware: this is the bed that you have made (arguably with our help due to our compliance).
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
October 21, 2014 at 1:46 am
"However the last few years I find myself crunched to get work done in my work week".
Only the last few years? I've often wondered how you manage to get so much stuff done in a 5-day week, Steve. Quite remarkable. And it counts, too. I'm sure only a tiny fraction of the folk who peruse SSC and Database Weekly take the time to comment.
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October 21, 2014 at 2:20 am
ChrisM@Work (10/21/2014)
"However the last few years I find myself crunched to get work done in my work week".Only the last few years? I've often wondered how you manage to get so much stuff done in a 5-day week, Steve. Quite remarkable. And it counts, too. I'm sure only a tiny fraction of the folk who peruse SSC and Database Weekly take the time to comment.
Agree wholeheartedly. Don't burn out fella.
Sadly I won't be able to make your London date this year - due to too much work. Always surprised at how relaxed you have projected when we have met before though.
October 21, 2014 at 6:44 am
The biggest thing that hit home in the article was the constant juggling of priorities. "This is most important...wait, this is most important...drop everything and look at this, but do this first." This is the drumbeat of many days and weeks for me. Then there's the deluge of email that never seems to stop, all wanting something different. I'm also consistently surprised at how much stuff I seem to cram into a week. It also explains why people are so tired so much of the time. I haven't burned out, but I really value my time not spent at work. Don't get me wrong...I genuinely enjoy what I do. There just seems to be a lot of it. A slowdown is more than welcome every once in a while.
October 21, 2014 at 6:54 am
Ed Wagner (10/21/2014)
The biggest thing that hit home in the article was the constant juggling of priorities. "This is most important...wait, this is most important...drop everything and look at this, but do this first." This is the drumbeat of many days and weeks for me. Then there's the deluge of email that never seems to stop, all wanting something different. I'm also consistently surprised at how much stuff I seem to cram into a week. It also explains why people are so tired so much of the time. I haven't burned out, but I really value my time not spent at work. Don't get me wrong...I genuinely enjoy what I do. There just seems to be a lot of it. A slowdown is more than welcome every once in a while.
Some management need to understand that there is an overhead (time based cost) to context switches. Some are necessary - we could all come up with our own examples, no doubt - but most, in my experience, are not.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
October 21, 2014 at 6:57 am
Gary Varga (10/21/2014)
Ed Wagner (10/21/2014)
The biggest thing that hit home in the article was the constant juggling of priorities. "This is most important...wait, this is most important...drop everything and look at this, but do this first." This is the drumbeat of many days and weeks for me. Then there's the deluge of email that never seems to stop, all wanting something different. I'm also consistently surprised at how much stuff I seem to cram into a week. It also explains why people are so tired so much of the time. I haven't burned out, but I really value my time not spent at work. Don't get me wrong...I genuinely enjoy what I do. There just seems to be a lot of it. A slowdown is more than welcome every once in a while.Some management need to understand that there is an overhead (time based cost) to context switches. Some are necessary - we could all come up with our own examples, no doubt - but most, in my experience, are not.
That is the exact conversation I've had with management in my company more than once. We all see it and agree that it exists, but many times there is little we can do about it.
October 21, 2014 at 7:38 am
That is so true about burn out. I've put in plenty of long hours, even all-nighters. But it can't go on forever. I've had managers who thought otherwise.
October 21, 2014 at 8:08 am
Not only is there a high frequency of events, but there's also a number of new presentations to build. It seems I have 3-4 (at least) new talks to assemble, which can be quite time consuming. That's in addition to keeping SQLServerCentral moving.
Steve, from the perspective of a daily consumer, the editorial content and operation of SQLServerCental is awesome. You guys have that base covered.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
October 21, 2014 at 8:21 am
Thanks. It's a challenge, but it hasn't been too bad most of the time. Lots of just plugging away, which I'm good at. Plus no co-workers to distract me 😉
The travel is hard. It jams things up since I basically run a newspaper and have to be working in advance all the time.
October 21, 2014 at 10:40 am
The demand for services grows with the quality and timeliness of the previous efforts. If one works hard and long and produces little of value, few will seek them out. If one produces at a high level repeatedly, with acceptable speed and accuracy many will beat the path to that door.
The path to this site is broad and well traveled.
M.
Not all gray hairs are Dinosaurs!
October 21, 2014 at 4:22 pm
ChrisM@Work (10/21/2014)
"However the last few years I find myself crunched to get work done in my work week".Only the last few years? I've often wondered how you manage to get so much stuff done in a 5-day week, Steve. Quite remarkable. And it counts, too. I'm sure only a tiny fraction of the folk who peruse SSC and Database Weekly take the time to comment.
Sorry for off-topic post, Chris you've raised a valid point here and have brought a daily reader like me "out of the shadows", Steve your work is greatly appreciated, even though you wouldn't have written the editorial to elicit praise, thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom gained through all your experiences, it has helped shaped my career.
Back on-topic, I agree that push-back has to occur, otherwise if we keep compensating and "sweeping things under the rug" then they will continue and not get resolved.
Short-term bursts are fine, and I believe people should be be recognised for doing so, with even a simple "thank you". Manners and civility still mean a lot to people, but giving someone time in lieu for extra hours (whether informally via allowing later starts, or earlier finishes to get home, through to the time in lieu showing up on the next paycheck) shows a commitment to the person who went above and beyond, and shows that you value and respect their decision to give up their personal time, when they could be spending that time with family, following a hobby, etc..
On the flip-side of recognising people, we as workers with a role to perform should also respect the fact that ultimately there is a customer at the end of what we do. Keeping those customers satisfied is what keeps companies/organisations successful. If you're not adding value to this stream, you're not really in a position to complain if you get let go, or your company/organisation tanks forcing you to find other employment.
October 21, 2014 at 8:33 pm
Eric M Russell (10/21/2014)
Not only is there a high frequency of events, but there's also a number of new presentations to build. It seems I have 3-4 (at least) new talks to assemble, which can be quite time consuming. That's in addition to keeping SQLServerCentral moving.
Steve, from the perspective of a daily consumer, the editorial content and operation of SQLServerCental is awesome. You guys have that base covered.
I whole heartedly agree. Steve is the major driving force behind SSC and a big part of why I've called SSC "home" for more than a decade. Hat's off to the rest of the team, as well.
--Jeff Moden
Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.
October 22, 2014 at 5:41 am
Jeff Moden (10/21/2014)
Eric M Russell (10/21/2014)
Not only is there a high frequency of events, but there's also a number of new presentations to build. It seems I have 3-4 (at least) new talks to assemble, which can be quite time consuming. That's in addition to keeping SQLServerCentral moving.
Steve, from the perspective of a daily consumer, the editorial content and operation of SQLServerCental is awesome. You guys have that base covered.
I whole heartedly agree. Steve is the major driving force behind SSC and a big part of why I've called SSC "home" for more than a decade. Hat's off to the rest of the team, as well.
Steve, you probably hear it all the time, but your work on SSC is very much appreciated. You do it well, so thank you.
October 22, 2014 at 9:19 am
Ed Wagner (10/22/2014)
I whole heartedly agree. Steve is the major driving force behind SSC and a big part of why I've called SSC "home" for more than a decade. Hat's off to the rest of the team, as well.
Steve, you probably hear it all the time, but your work on SSC is very much appreciated. You do it well, so thank you.[/quote]
Thanks, Ed. The sentiment is always appreciated.
Steve
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