Working Hard...But Not Working Smart

A friend sent this regarding working hours.

I also know through one of my contacts that they didn't give it to the other
manager who left awhile back.  I know these guys work long hours.  I just don't
understand these tech companies, everyone seems to be working 80 hour
weeks.  I don't know where they get all the work?

He's a  nice guy  but works
too much - creates alot of it himself.  They are doing an efficiency study
trying to convince people that they need to hire more folks, which they may
or may not. But he said the study has said that he has averaged over 15
hours a day this year (includes weekends).    Again - I don't know what they are doing.

Well, the Ryder Cup was a complete washout except for Darren Clarke so back to this.  This is working hours.  Some people love to work, most don't but the trend is to longer and longer hours which is really stupid.

Take a look at the quote above from my friend commenting on the lack of success of a colleague.  I also know through one of my contacts that they didn't give it to the other manager who left awhile back.  I know these guys work long hours.  My friend is commenting on a job opening where they didn't give the job to the first in-house canditate and then didn't give it to the other in-house canditate.  A lot of companies don't trust their in-house canditates.

Then look at the next part. I know these guys work long hours.  So long hours and dedication to the job don't always translate into success.  In fact, often they work the opposite direction with the boss sitting there going "Why is that guy always taking so long to get something done?"

He's a  nice guy  but works too much - creates alot of it himself. This smells of busy work.  Also smells of not being able to prioritize tasks.

They are doing an efficiency study trying to convince people that they need to hire more folks, which they may or may not. But he said the study has said that he has averaged over 15 hours a day this year (includes weekends).    Again - I don't know what they are doing.

Why hire anybody else when you have morons like this willing to work 15 hours a day?  And not just work days but weekends.

Plus they didn't get the promotion.  So how do you handle a work place and work hours?

1) If you have just landed that first real job adopt the "When in Rome, do as the Romans" approach.  If your boss is a nut and works 2 million hours a week then so do you.  For one year.  Then evaluate the situation.  Do I mind working 2 million hours a week?  If so, no problem.  If you do mind, then see if your boss even notices if you start cutting back.  He may have a problem you don't like a home life that is out of hell and he doesn't want any part of it.  Try cutting back and see what happens.

2) What if it is the company culture?  Nobody works 2 million hours a week but many work 50.  If 50 is ok, do your 50 and no more.

3) What if the culture is a 100 hours a week?  Do your 100 for a year, see if you get promoted.  If not then do the 100 and take the rest of your time to look for a new job.  You can't just get a new job every day but you have put in your year and you know this is a dead ender so now is the time to get with the job search.

Now here is the real thing to watch out for-- don't get caught up in it.  If you are a workaholic, great.  If you are not, don't become one because you can end up a real zombie.  I hate that "Get a life thing" but ...  Working long is not smart.  Getting the job done is smart and will get results.  Find an environment that rewards results.

Remember Winston Churchill.  The guy drank a magnum of champagne a day, all day long.  He also took naps, probably had to from drinking.  But,  boy, did he get the job done.  Just ask the Germans.

Comments

[Hazzard]

I have consistently worked 40 hours per week for my entire career. This hasn't stopped me from getting larger raises and more promotions than many of the people around me that work FAR more. I think the key is to work smart, prioritize tasks etc. If someone is struggling with that, they should look in to some good books that discuss how to increase your productivity etc. I've known quite a few great people that just didn't seem to be able to get 40 hours of work done in 40 hours. I think that supporting tools like PC's and knowledge of the job keep them from actually getting the job done. (in other words, they aren't too good at using the tools of the job and end up spending a ton of time just trying use the tools)