I first encountered “professionally busy syndrome” last year when working with one of my corporate clients. During the need analysis process I met with various team members to conduct one on one interviews, but there was this one member of staff who, no matter how hard I tried he “just couldn’t fit me in”. “Stacia I’m so sorry, you just can’t begin to understand how busy I am!” he said. “I have meetings with clients all day, I have to complete A, B, C project, and I don’t have any help”. “Then why don’t you ask for help?” I enquired. He then went for fifteen minutes to explain how there was no one else in the department who was qualified to help, how this team members lacked experience and would only slow him down… blah, blah, blah”, his excuses was endless. His behaviour was typical of someone suffering from “professionally busy syndrome”.
Here are the symptoms:
• The professionally busy are always inundated with work, projects and assignments
• They don’t forget to let you know how much work they have to do
• Whenever you try to sit with them, they can never spare 5 minutes to discuss your issue, but they can certainly carve out 10 minutes to explain why they can’t sit with you.
• They will never accept or seek help, because this state of busy makes them feel important.
Anyway, like other “professionally busy” this young man was a misguided glory hog who was using this state of “busy” to seek recognition. Somewhere in the back of his mind he felt that because he had so much to do, he was more important than his colleagues. Nothing could be further from the truth. Busy is not a form of excellence and certainly should not be displayed as a medal of honor (look at me I’m soooo busy and you’re not.)
In fact the “professionally busy” are often perceived as:
• Prima Donna’s
• Unorganized and lacking time management skills
• In over their heads/unqualified for the job
• Unable to prioritize
• Not a team player or someone who can be relied on
• Unprofessional
• A whiner or complainer
• Disrespectful
• Stressed out and on the verge of a breakdown
The drawbacks are resentment from colleagues, missed opportunities (because management understands that you couldn’t possibly take on another thing), possible lack of upward mobility and a tarnished professional reputation.
So what’s the cure for “professionally busy syndrome”?
We all have times when we must lock ourselves away for an hour or two to complete an assignment, but this should not be the norm. If a colleague needs to meet with you, but the timing is all wrong:
• Briefly explain why the time is not convenient
• Apologize
• Try to schedule another time that is more convenient (perhaps a breakfast or lunch, surely you must eat!)
• Ask your colleague to leave the file or send you an e-mail outlining their concerns (you can peruse at home)
• Finally, If you are the one seeking an audience with the “professionally busy”, remember to say thank you and to show your appreciation for the sacrifice the “professionally busy” has made to fit you in. If you asked for ten minutes complete you business in half that time.
