I will use my posting of this very blog as an example of a time I did not act opportunistically. Today, while working my normal 8AM to 5PM hours, I had the perfect chance to take advantage of the fact that my boss, and three colleagues from the office were not at work. As a result of their absence, I was the only one in the office and could have taken the opportunity to work on things like school-work, catch up with my friends on social media, or just sit back, relax and enjoy a show on Netflix. Alas, this is not what happened but, even though I checked off a number of items on my work tasklist, no one would've been the wiser.
A little background that may be relevant to this situation, and then I'll explain my rationale for working instead of "playing." I took this position just 6 weeks ago, and consider myself quite new to the role. This role is one I earned by proving my ability to perform at a previous department and then applying for an open promotional-rank position. Despite possessing the knowledge and skills to complete the tasks required of me, the ways in which my colleagues (and the department) operate still presents me with a tremendous learning curve. Additionally, it should be noted that I am responsible for a number of critical departmentally sponsored events this semester, including accreditation, an alumni event in Chicago, and a new lecture series sponsored by an important (wealthy) alumnus. Since joining the team in my new position, I was tasked with all aspects of these events which have proven to be more than time-consuming.
That's where I was at the beginning of today--caterings to confirm, people to contact, designs to review, people to research, all for the small list of large events. So, when I arrived at work today, and realized I would be the only one in the office, I realized the world was my oyster. Who would've known if I was just playing on Facebook? Who would've known if I spent a couple of hours typing up this post? The answer was clear: no one. But what happened, you ask? I worked on my list. But why, you ask, when I had so much freedom? The answers are many, but I will attempt to address them below.
First and foremost, I have a LOT of work to do, and while I know I could've pushed myself harder on Monday to get more done, I decided I didn't want that kind of Monday. Monday's are stressful as it is--tons of emails to answer, people to meet, etc., I just didn't want to make it worse. I think this is one of my biggest motivators, personally. I like to "spread the wealth," try not to make any day too difficult, or worse than it has to be. I already feel that I have a high-pressure, high-stress job, why make it worse? This type of motivation comes only from within. Self-motivation is hard to find, but it is nice to know my Monday won't be so bad.
Next, and maybe this really is more like the first reason I completed "work" while at work: it makes me feel good. I find much of my self motivation is getting to the end and feeling accomplished. I also have a personal system of rewarding myself. If I get to a certain point in my work, I get to take a break and have a snack. Today, that was after I finished reviewing and sending a mass-mail to a number of potential donors and important practitioners in the Chicago area. This type of motivation probably doesn't work for everyone, but I know that forcing myself to be patient leads to the greatest rewards, not only physical, but emotional--feeling good--too.
Another reason for working on, well, work, is the external motivation: if I prove myself at this job, I can earn another promotion. Of course promotions come with raises, so essentially the motivation there is financial incentive. I can talk myself into doing most tasks that I deem difficult and overwhelming, as long as I focus on the long haul. I write all of my accomplishments down so I can review them at the end of each year and take note of things I should mention at interviews. It is a great feeling to add something to the list. Now, I know that today wouldn't have been the end-all, be-all for possible future promotions, but what I do know is that I have been a manager before. I know what it's like to return to work and learn that your associate hasn't completed anything while you were gone. While one time may not lead to termination or even punishment, a series of non-productive days leads to difficult discussions. I want to be promoted, and difficult discussions will only present a roadblock in that plan.
I also find that I work each day because it makes the days go by faster. If I have to work for another 40 years, I might as well do something to make the time go by quickly. Being bored leads to opportunism, and I hate being bored, days go by much slower. I suppose this is an internal motivator, but it also makes me feel like I get home sooner. And hanging out at home with my family is a huge motivator, so this is also kind of an external motivator, too.
Lastly, I worked on work today because I have a moral obligation to do so. I know that I'm being paid for every hour I am at my desk and I know they aren't paying me to play on Facebook or write this blog post. So, in order to not feel guilty, which sure is a STRONG internal motivator, I feel the need to work, and work hard, even when no one is watching.
I feel all of the reasons I have presented above are similar in some ways and different in others. Some are internal motivators, some external. Some are emotional and some are ethical, but it is the combination of these things that drives me to work hard every day, and push myself to excel.
This post is interesting because you framed opportunism as taking short term advantage - you weren't being monitored at the office that day because everyone is elsewhere - but not as long term shirking where all your obligations at work sound like they are monitored by your supervisors.
ReplyDeleteGiven the way you framed it I wondered if
(a) you could do work related things at a different location, say at home, if you so desired,
(b) you could do work related things outside the 9 to 5 time window, and
(c) whether you've done either of those yet or if you ever will in the future.
Because my wife works in personnel, I know there are some offices where they expect staff to be there during business hours. But as a faculty member, I've never thought of it that way. If I'm thinking of an idea I will write about and I'm doing it while I'm driving my car, that is work and I can concentrate on it as much as I care to, as long as I don't get into a car accident. I end up doing a lot of my writing at 5 AM, after I've had my first cup of coffee. I'm freshest then and it is the best time for me.
Obviously I don't skip class because I'm not primed at that time. The teaching schedule is what it is. But the preparation happens whenever it happens and I'm commenting on your blog post at almost 7 PM on an Saturday evening. That is work when it makes sense to me. I promised you guys that these would be done so you can address my comments before class on Monday.
So the question is whether the nature of what you do needs a fixed container or not. If it does need a fixed container (because people might drop into the office and you need to respond to them if they do) then there is a different reason for not watching Netflix at the office. But if you don't need a fixed container for your work, then it is habit more than anything else that dictates when and where you do your assigned work. Opportunism then would be in short changing your bosses overall, but not in shifting some of the work to home.
Interesting you ask those questions. I consider myself a workaholic, so you might consider the things I say below as not necessarily true (as I am union and sometimes I don't like to play by the rules). For the record: no, I cannot do things at home (though I check my email 24/7 and respond when there is a need). For the record: I cannot do work-related things outside the 8:30-5 window (but I do because I like to be helpful and provide my superiors with excellent support). I am expected to be here during business hours and often find myself working during the lunch hours to make up the time I spend in class, and because I feel guilty when I have other obligations that take me away from the office, (like advisor meetings, or to meet with a professor during office hours) so I make sure I more-than-make-up the time I miss. So, yes, the nature of my work "requires" a fixed container, (even though I can, and do, work at home, off the record of course).
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