Solving Problems/Improving Leadership at the Charlotte Observer’s Magazine Department
My boss, Caroline, is nearing her due date of having a baby, so she has been running around meeting with executives, writing editorial letters and assigning freelancers pieces to complete for the coming issues of SouthPark Magazine that she will not be around for, and meeting with me and her stand-in ghost editor to go over responsibilities, tasks, and expectations in her absence. Because she has had a chaotic past couple of weeks trying to get stuff done, I have been more eager than ever to help her tie up loose ends in preparation for her departure. However, she has been so busy that I think that, at times, she assigns me pointless, busy work to complete because she has so much on her own plate to get done that she doesn’t have time to think about what other things I can work on, and I finish assignments more quickly than she thought I would. I understand she is likely very stressed about finishing things up before she leaves, but that is what I’m here for: to help her get things done and alleviate this stress. I sometimes give her a gentle reminder that I have finished the assignment I was working on and am ready to help her in anyway possible, but I am wondering if there is a better way to do that without stressing her out even more or adding more to her plate. Also, she sometimes gets into the office later than I do, because she has a lot of morning meetings. So, when she finally gets into our office mid-afternoon, it is at that time that she starts to think of tasks for me to complete, so I end up staying at work later than I probably need to. One possible solution to both of these problems might be if Caroline would email the night before with a schedule or lists of tasks to complete the following day, then I could have a running lists of things to do when I complete my tasks quickly, so I don’t have to bother her, and I can have stuff to do in the morning before she gets in so I don’t have to message her or ask other people in the office if they want me to assist them with anything.
I can only imagine how much Caroline has to do before leaving to have her baby; I was running crazy to get things done before going on vacation for 12 days. I think you’ve identified a really useful idea (evening email with to do list for next day); I encourage you to share this with her. Though you work in a small, collaborative environment, the hectic nature at this time may mean that an e-mail to Caroline might be best. If you were to send her a note and say ‘I feel I could be doing more to assist with you as you prepare for your absence’ and pitch her your idea, she might have time to read that and consider it in a way she might not that comment in passing (or in a meeting). Another strategy might also be for you to develop a list of things that seem like items you might be able to assist with (don’t know if you’d be able to develop that list) and share that with her – it gives her a place to start and she sees that you’ve already been thinking of ways to help.