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, 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)
·
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.
