I have a long-awaited holiday coming up next month, which unfortunately coincides with a big work deadline. I can't alter the holiday as it ties in with a family occasion and have promised my team to work overtime in the run-up to get as much done as possible. However, my boss has asked me to work while I am away. He says the project cannot be completed without my input. Is this ethical? Or should I volunteer to set aside some hours or days during my break for the sake of keeping the peace? BN
For the sake of keeping the peace with your boss, you could be compromising your own well-being, undermining the team you have at work and, more importantly, that team we call our family. This holiday sounds much anticipated and part of an important occasion that you don’t want to miss. It is unfortunate that it ties in with an important work deadline. Working overtime in the run up will support you in getting as much as possible ready for this. However, I have questions as to why you feel you need to work while away, and why your boss expects the same from you.
Realistically, the odd email or phone call from your team or boss during your holiday may be OK. You could even get permission from those you are holidaying with to take a few hours out to review a report. However, asking you to work across your holiday is unfair on you and those around you both in and outside the office.
For your team, I am wondering in the months leading up to this point whether you have delegated enough and have developed their capacity to “own” this project. Or have you set it up the project so that it revolves around you. There are different forms of delegation from “follow these steps precisely” and “gather the evidence and then I will decide” to “you decide and take action” and “let me know what you did”. Developing those around you should allow you to really step back and take the break that you need.
The benefits of successful delegation will allow you to focus your time and energy on important things, but more importantly it motivates those around you, and you learn more about the strengths within your team. It also demonstrates that you trust the people reporting to you. Delegating during a critical project can be stressful and barriers will exist. These are created from assumptions many of us hold that “it is quicker to do it myself”, or “my boss wants me involved”. It is useful to check these assumptions out as they can be irrational.
I think for your situation with your holiday soon approaching, it would be useful to spend the time you have left developing the capability of your team, preparing them as much as possible and feeding this back to your boss to increase his confidence that the project is on track. You may want to just spend the time driving the project yourself, but is it not more productive to train others to take the driving seat? There may be a person in your team willing to step into the race, and your holiday provides the perfect opportunity for someone else to take pole position.
Working across your holiday is also dangerous for you. Trust me, I have been there. First of all, many of us take holidays because we are exhausted and want to recharge our mental batteries. When away we then start working and have to switch between family and work time. Inevitably we become distracted during both. The quality time we spend with our family and friends is precious and not being present during these times is actually unacceptable.
Similarly, work suffers as we try to reply to emails using a poor Wi-Fi connection or spend the majority of our time at an important family event on the phone. If you are going to have to work, designate just one morning or afternoon to doing so. After that, put the laptop away and enjoy. Returning to work energised is good for you, your family, your team and the business.
Doctor's prescription:
Ultimately, you can work hard to delegate and develop those around you, create some clear boundaries for any work you may do while away, but the key hurdle to overcome is to manage the expectations of your boss. Explain the steps you are taking with your team and the plans you have while you are away. If his concern is for the project, then develop his confidence that it will be delivered.
Alex Davda is a business psychologist and consultant at Ashridge Business School, based in the Middle East. Email him at business@thenational.ae for advice on any work issues.
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