How to Manage a Work Overload

Today's business world is "lean and mean," which means that many of us are doing a job that would have been done by several people during the boom times. Work overloads are common and need to be carefully managed to prevent burnout.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• PC
• Scratch pad and pen
• Daytimer
• Everything on your desk

1. Start out by going to a quiet place, and taking out your pad and listing every pressing priority you have.
2. Review each, and ask yourself what the consequences would be if it didn't get done. Rank each one as an "A," "B," or "C" priority accordingly.
3. Figure out how long each "A" priority will take, then open your daytimer and schedule uninterrupted time to complete it.
4. Schedule "B" priorities around the "A" priorities, and see if you can either delegate or dump each "C" priority.
5. Set aside certain times to handle phone calls and emails, and don't let them interrupt the "A" priority project time.
6. Take all the papers on your desk and either file them, or act on them one by one. Toss anything that you don't need.
7. If you find you have more "A" priorities than can reasonably be done, set up an appointment with your manager to review each and see what should take top priority. If you are both in agreement, you are less likely to be in trouble for not finishing the lower priority item.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a true overload and all the "A" jobs have to be done in an unreasonable time frame, write up a justification for a temporary employee to help.
• Try not to sacrifice sleep or family time to get your work done. This causes you to lose objectivity, and can cause costly mistakes.

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