A READER WRITES:
I am facing some serious workplace issues, which have left me totally exhausted. I work in a small-scaled company with 30 employees. We are a technical company and we undertake technical projects. My boss gives me ridiculous and impossible timeframes to complete my projects. He does the same thing over and over again. I am totally tired and sick of meeting impossible deadlines. It’s simply so frustrating and demoralizing when I’m not able to finish the work as per the giving deadline. For instance, if a certain project requires at least 15 days for completion, I’ll be asked to complete it within 2-3 days. I’ve started hating my job.
Day by day, it’s becoming tough to deal with my difficult boss. I don’t like my job at all and I’m having second thoughts on it. These things have dragged me into a situation where I’m feeling like I should quit. I used to love my work, but such time frames are resulting into a very tiresome day for me. I cannot become productive. All I have to do is concentrate on finishing the task before a deadline. I’m going to tell my boss that I’m resigning. But, still, I want your opinion because I loved this job. I’m so confused that I don’t know what to do. Please help me.
Answer
You shouldn’t rush into taking such decisions. I know this is hard for you. But you must listen to the perspective of your manager first. Unless you talk to your boss you won’t be able to figure out whether your company is having unrealistic deadlines and expectations or whether they are trying to become exceptional by managing to complete the project in a small time span.
I know a few individuals who joined as a fresher and considered that the company functions ridiculously at a warp pace. After they continued in the same company for some time, it wasn’t the same case. They felt the conditions different from being in the company for 7-8 months. It’s the possibility that you are new to such environment, you do not know how the company functions and you’re taking a long time in adjusting yourself to the new schedule. There are possibilities that the task you feel requires more time to finish could only take mere 3-5 days in reality.
You see, there are lots of possibilities. Instead of just looking at the matter from your side, try to think from both the sides. I would suggest you should discuss the matter with your colleagues if they’re facing the same issue. In case they are, you are seriously in a trouble and look forward to a switch, but if they aren’t then you need to buck up. It doesn’t matter wherever you work, there will be times when you’ll be totally free and there will also be a time when you won’t even get a chance to have your normal coffee. That’s how the office works. So, discuss the matter with your colleagues or boss. Talk to your boss and see what can be done about the matter.