Oh no no no! We are wise, we are assertive. We don't take extra work, or let anyone give it to us.
Ya right.
A set of 'to-dos' (touche`- corporate lingo!) bullets are usually jotted down mentally before one joins a company. An experienced IT professional typically adds in the the following :
- Family is priority. Try not to go home late.
- Don't take extra work. In the larger scheme of things, it really doesn't matter.
I am one of these typical experienced IT professionals. I had mentally ticked and cross-checked these bullet points before coming to the new office and taking up new assignments.
Then the inevitable happened - Seemingly impossible and frankly unnecessary deadlines. Now remember I had ticked the mental bullets? So I tried using tact with my manager, "I will not work over the weekend as I have other work to be done". (Ok, thats not tactical, but what would be in the face of a deadline?)
Tact definitely didn't work, and before I knew it, I was moving along with the demand and felt like I was towed away in the hurry-flurry of the corporate life!
Lesson learnt:
In any profession, the game of tick-tact-tow is always played. More often than not, we win it with all three crossed out, but come out grumbling.
Disclaimer:
I love my job. In fact, I seriously think this is the most fun job ever. But hey, what is mused will obviously be put here.
