If you are tired and leave your job, it is often due to acute overwork. If the situation persists, it becomes a problem – professionally and privately – looking for cover letter writing service. The simplest solution: work less. What modern German means downshifting must of course be discussed with the managers. However, this is not easy for every weary warrior. Here are tips for the meeting with the boss.
Revision: Challenge for employees and management
Digitization and globalization – for some they are a blessing, for others a curse. On the one hand, both effects promote productivity and profit, which is good for companies. On the other hand, they turn traditional work processes upside down, which is often exhausting for the employees.
New technologies make their work easier and, thanks to artificial intelligence, for example, free them from monotonous activities. On the other hand, in many industries, there has been a significantly higher cycle rate than before. Processes at all levels are streamlined, like the best essay writing service in usa.
But not only increasing the tempo is a challenge. The employment structure is also changing significantly. New technologies require new skills, which new colleagues often bring with them – but long-standing employees have to acquire them first. This increases the competitive pressure and unsettles some earned strength.
The most common burdens for professionals today are:
- Great deadline pressure
- bad working atmosphere
- emotional stress
- Overtime
- Constant availability
This can lead to constant stress arise, which not only affects motivation but also harbors health risks such as burnout or depression.
Work less, live more – is that really the solution?
There are a lot of tips against overwork. It is recommended, for example, to avoid the pressure of competition, to leave the problem in the office or to undertake more leisure activities.
That is basically good advice. Unfortunately, they are often easier said than done. Downshifting can sometimes be easier – and more productive. But that doesn’t make it a panacea.
Anyone who thinks that they have to cut back on their job should research the cause beforehand. The matter needs to be considered carefully. After all, “ work less, live more ” usually means less salary.
If you too are faced with this decision, take enough time for the analysis:
- In the beginning, it is about making your situation tangible. Because overwork is often only revealed diffusely. Therefore, you should approach the diagnosis step by step. This includes, first of all, the well-founded realization that you actually feel uncomfortable because of the work. If, for example, private reasons for your predicament come to light when you look at yourself, downshifting will hardly help you.
- Once it is clear that your problem is professional, circle it. Investigate why you feel drained. Is it due to the work itself, excessive demands, general deadline pressure, or maybe the working atmosphere? There could be several circumstances that are bothering you.
Analyze: Find ways out of the revision
Once you have found the trigger for your misery, that alone should not mean the conversation with the boss search. The flat demand: “ I need more free time and less work ” will hardly get you any further. It makes more sense to also present your own proposed solutions.
So take it easy and think about what downshifting could look like in your case. Here are some examples:
- If there are tasks that are particularly tough on you, then you take on others instead.
- If you suffer from too much responsibility, for example, because you are leading a team, then hand over parts of it.
- Working less may just be an alternative. Could the home office also help you or more flexible working hours?
- Further training may reduce stress because you will be able to master your tasks better afterward.
- A transfer to another department is also conceivable.
Discuss: Discuss downshifting with the boss
As you can see, downshifting doesn’t always mean working less according to the clock. But of course, this is usually the focus in the form of part-time.
But whatever may help in your case – sooner or later you will have to clarify it with your manager. With a few well-founded solutions in your pocket, you are already well prepared for the corresponding meeting.
Feel prepared, go to your manager and briefly explain your concerns.
- Perhaps you can use the next employee interview for this purpose.
- Otherwise, request a meeting of reasonable duration. The subject can hardly be discussed between the door and the hinge or within a few minutes. It should be at least half an hour.
- It is ideal if the supervisor does not have a direct follow-up appointment and can devote himself to you without time pressure.
Present your situation that you want to improve with downshifting, and submit your ideas. Caution: Your counterpart should not get the impression that you are only interested in more free time and less work. Therefore, describe your plight in as much detail as you think is appropriate.
Check: Check the success of the downshifting
If you have presented your situation and your proposed solutions and the manager is open-minded, then consider together how things can continue for you in the company.
Develop concrete measures from the conversation and agree on new framework conditions for your work on this basis. A model with various milestones that should be achieved within set deadlines is conceivable.
- Ideally, you should record the result in writing and seal the agreement with a signature.
- However: the paper is patient. Therefore, you should not only document the agreement, but also its implementation. So keep a record of your progress or regression with your downshifting.
- If the desired effects do not materialize after a while or if another procedure emerges that makes more sense, then talk to your boss again.
If you flash your manager down with your downshifting plans, you should consider whether a job change is the next step. Because in the long run, the revision will damage you too much.