Your boss and co-workers aren't impressed when you send out work emails at midnight.
You probably have co-workers who send emails at odd times to show that they're working at all hours. And you likely have colleagues who stay late at the office, not because they have to, but because they want to look like they're working extra hard.
While these tactics may work for a time, they're not going to sustain you in your career. If you've got a boss or job that truly demands this level of attention, then you may be out of luck. But otherwise, you need to tread carefully.
You may not realize it, but it's often painfully obvious to your superiors and colleagues when you have issues prioritizing your work. This can result in your being treated differently than you'd like in the workplace or as you seek promotions.
Here are some messages that prioritizing poorly can send to your bosses – and how they can affect your career.
1. You don't know how to balance your work. If you're not getting the most important projects completed on time, or if they're not high-quality products, your boss may be wondering why you have trouble balancing your workload. This may result in your losing out on work that you want to do when it's given to employees who are more capable of prioritizing. More importantly, your boss may think that you may not be able to handle a promotion.
2. You can't balance work and life. There are times when major things occur in our personal lives that cause us to miss work. But if you're making decisions that negatively impact your workday, reconsider your actions. If you're constantly unprepared in the office or late because of choices you make the night before, you are going to look bad and have a harder time earning a promotion. Once in a while things happen, but don't make being late or unprepared a habit. This can signal to your bosses that you can't handle more responsibility – and, well, there go your chances for promotion as well as your overall professional reputation.
3. You're not spending time on what's important during the workday. If you're staying late all the time, colleagues may sense that you cannot arrange your schedule effectively enough during the day to get work done. Often useless meetings or talkative co-workers are at fault for your late days. Try thinking about how you can manage the parts of your day that are in your control, including some of those interruptions, and enforce the rules. This may mean closed doors and "do not disturb" signs when necessary. Clearly blocking off your calendar for uninterrupted work time each day is also a good practice.
4. You are willing to miss family or personal commitments for work events. What does this say to your boss? If you work for someone who does this, sorry, but you may be stuck. But a lot of higher-ups are not going to respect these choices if you continue this pattern. Companies are beginning to realize that employees who balance work and family and take time for recreational activities are more productive. If you're not doing that, you're not rejuvenating yourself, coming in with fresh ideas or ready to perform at your best each day.
5. You come in to work sick. A lot of people say, "I can't miss work. I have an important meeting today that I can't miss." First, chances are that a co-worker could handle it for you. Second, and perhaps more importantly, no one wants to get sick – not your clients or colleagues. When you're ill, you're also much less productive. If you take care of yourself and get better, you'll be able to come back faster and work more constructively. Your health should take priority over your job.
You may not have thought about some of these things before and how they may impact your professional reputation. But they do. And they can come with consequences if you don't manage your time and personal situations appropriately. Think carefully about what messages your actions at work send. If you suspect that they may be hurting you, work on changing your approach and prioritizing differently. It will improve the health of your job and your career.
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