Comments on: Are you a work-horse?

By: schrodinger

schrodinger — Sun, 01 May 2011 12:24:42 +0000

I’m the workhorse for our volunteer emergency communicator group. There are 4 of us, but here lately I’ve been the only one answering the calls from the City for severe weather (tornadoes, severe hailstorms, etc.) even in the middle of the night. Problem is, by the time the City gets to me, they’ve already tried the other members with no luck. I’ve said something, but so far no results. Since lives and property may be at stake, I feel it’s important to have someone doing the job. So, I do it– but I say something to the rest of the group every time since the 5th time in a 3 day period– now, it’s been 13 times in a week that we’ve been called and I’m the only one who would answer the call. Okay one guy had surgery twice this week, first on his eye and again on his foot so he gets a pass. But the other 2? One is a definite flake and the other… well, I really don’t know.

I’m tired, and we still have more shots at being called again in the next 2 days. I feel bad saying “NO, SORRY– I can’t” when it’s the City Office of Emergency Management or the National Weather Service, but I might just have to, and tell them that I’m exhausted. After all, we’re VOLUNTEERS!

By: Want to be a Better Leader? Schedule Some Time For Yourself to Think

Want to be a Better Leader? Schedule Some Time For Yourself to Think — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:13:15 +0000

[...] hear upper managers talking about their workhorses: “Oh yeah, we can throw anything at him, he’ll work round the clock, he’ll travel anywhere, [...]

By: Pedro

Pedro — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:40:40 +0000

I am on the same boat, I have been told by my ex-boss, new boss and VP that I am a workhorse. I am a consultant with this company. It really makes me mad that people in my department make more money and I am stuck doing more work than them. Everybody in my department quit and I thought maybe I had a chance to get hired on and run it. Well yesterday my new boss mentioned work-horse thing again, but was trying to get me hired on. I would love to go back to my company, but they have not had any work for 3 years now. I am looking for another job, but the market is very tough right now. Sorry so long I hand to vent. Thanks for listing.

By: Patty Azzarello’s Blog » Blog Archive » Re-define your job to get ahead

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:13:21 +0000

[...] fact, working too hard, trying to do everything that is asked of you, is what gets you stuck. You need to understand what the business values, and then tune your job to deliver more value, [...]

By: Donna

Donna — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:16:47 +0000

Some of the best, straightforward, no-nonsense, easy-to-apply advice I’ve seen recently.

By: Patty Azzarello

Patty Azzarello — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:41:28 +0000

Hi Kim,
thanks for your comment. Yikes! bad boss. When you next interview you can ask your would be peers about the boss – “does she take vacations?” “does she check in every day when on vacation, or delegate stuff?” – that is a good indicator of how you will be treated.

I’m sorry your boss doesn’t get it. The most effective leaders encourage people to renew themselves because then they can give even more to the company re-energized, motivated, and feeling appreciated.

good luck!

Patty

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:21:18 +0000

Thanks – I needed that. A problem I have is that not only is there too much work to do, but if I do take any vacation, my boss expects me to be checking messages and calling in the whoel time – so why even try to take a break. We are to be available all the time. I have tried to tell her that I need to take vacation (even at a spa!) and I wouldn’t be calling in and it was like I slapped her across the face!

By: Linda Kane

Linda Kane — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:15:35 +0000

I needed to hear this- I am a workhorse- I am already looking to delegate
Thank you