Reliable Employees Always Seem To Get More Work
Do you have reliable employees? Are you a reliable person? Do you have a really full plate?
Workplace dynamics are always a challenge.
Everything from drama, to respect, to perceptions of what is fair and what might be discriminatory.
Everyone knows the story of the squeaky wheel. It gets the oil.
There is another dynamic that often plagues some of the best employees and leaves bosses wondering what happened.
The most accountable, the best workers, the most trusted, timely, and accurate, they get more work.
In coaching scenarios, when I’m working with a boss and a direct report, it is not uncommon to find this dynamic. The boss, wanting the fastest, best, and easiest route to getting things done always dumps more work on the best employees.
On the other hand, those employees often feel taken advantage of, or worse, picked on.
Reliable Employees
If you are a top performer, an exemplary employee, this could happen to you. Instead of getting rewarded with an extra break or some relevant perk, you get more work.
The truth is that your hard work is probably what has landed you the spotlight. It has a lot to do with your past success and will condition your future path as well.
If you are a boss and have ever wondered about your best employees burning out, or after some time developing a more negative attitude, it could mean you’ve overstepped.
Certainly, it is not intentional, and most workplace leaders don’t have a clue or recognize the symptoms of it happening. Yet, it is commonplace.
For the boss, remember to deal with problem performers. Give employees more training on the essentials for becoming successful. Highlight those exemplars and identify them as role-models.
For the employee, consider some open communication on what you feel happening. Ask for relief to remove lesser items from your plate to allow you to work on more advanced assignments. Stay open-minded and remember you may be a Rockstar, which is exactly why you get more work. The alternative is much worse.
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
