At the starting of the career, every individual try to put in extra effort and engage into his/her work, but it is the right time that one need to start setting limits. Normally employees work 45 to 50 hours a week, and the expectation is set in the very first month of his tenure. Actually, the amount you’re expected to work depends on the type of your industry you are working in, so take that into consideration when establishing boundaries. It varies from an individual to individual, what limit they set for themselves.
In the start of your career
If you are a trainee or a less than a year experienced person, this is your learning phase. You don’t have social responsibilities to fulfil. In this duration your primary focus should be how to give your 100% at your workplace. But this does not mean that anything and everything that no employee want to do is put in your plate. Since you are new to the company you are not in a position to deny. If you feel the work would add some value to your career then it is recommended to take the ownership. But if it is zero value add task then learn to say “NO”. Don’t be blunt to your boss by saying “no, I can’t,” but rather, put an alternative solution like automating the task or suggesting to have a team member with better match for this kind of work . It is hard to give suggestions in early phases of your career but if you are caught once, you might end up in similar situation multiple times. Keep in mind few points before approaching to your boss, do not let him feel that you are teaching him, always convey them the message that you are a very good learner and would love to take new challenges in future.
In the early mid of your career
If you have a total of more than 3-4 years of experience, with more than 2 years with your current employer, you do have some social responsibilities to fulfil. In this duration your focus is divided between your work and your family. By this time you have learned the art to say no to the task for which you feel you are not the right person and due to office politics it is assigned to you. Since it came to you through proper channel you not in a position to deny. If you feel the work would add some value to your career and there is much to learn from it, it is recommended you grab this opportunity. Sometimes people gain from accidents was well, but at the same time if it is a no value add task, then you need to act smartly. Check for the sources, somebody must have suggested your name to the deciding authorities, it can be your manager, or any other colleague, who would have been the next target, or your peer competitor for personal reasons. Once you know the root source, do not put your foot down. Collect information and right person for that task. Set up a meeting with the deciding authorities, talk to them directly with all the supporting document and try to convince them. Don’t forget to list down some other value added task which you were currently doing or are in your pipeline. Do tell them how excited you were to start those pending task and how beneficial these can be to your company. No matter how hard working you are, but you need to open your eyes and ears at your workplace to save yourself from being exploited by others. However, making such a suggestion isn’t a guarantee, and there are lot of things not in your control.
In the mid of your career
By this time you are a person with a rich experience of 10 plus years. If you feel the assignment currently assigned to you is an incorrect decision, schedule a meeting with your boss or choose a convenient time for the same. Bring the proposal with you and be prepared to answer for all the questions confidently else it would result in individual egos. Explain your point very politely and try to listen to the reason for choosing you. May be after this meeting, you might change your mind. Perhaps accepting additional work could actually be a very good opportunity to redefine your scope of work.
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