This Might Sound Odd, but I'm Too Efficient at My Job

Mintee on 31/10/2024 - 15:13

Hello!

So, here’s the thing: as weird as this sounds, I think I'm too good at my job? I often finish the same amount of tasks as my colleagues (at the same quality) in about 1/5 of the time. This means that during a typical 5-day workweek, I’m really only working for 1-2 days, while the rest of the time, I’m just trying to look busy.

I even brought this up with my boss, asking if there was anything else he wanted me to focus on since I often feel quiet. While that sparked some activity for a bit, I’m back to having little to do.

Here are a few issues I’m facing:
- I get the sense that my boss feels threatened by my efficiency.
- He struggles with managing time, most likely will cancel meetings with me last minute or send last minute invites, I notice that he doesn't really manage people effectively.
- Even if I take on more work, there’s little recognition or clear targets.
- When I do get work, it generally gets stuck in red-tape.
- I'm also really conscious that nobody likes a know-it-all.

I’ve even reached out to managers at the same level as my boss for extra tasks. They’ve been accommodating for some time, but recognise that they cant give me anything huge and ongoing as that should really come from my boss directly.

I’ve asked colleagues for feedback on my work quality and my approachability, and they’ve given me positive reviews. My performance evaluations have also been good….. I’ve been told that some people just take longer to problem solve, finish tasks etc, and I need to accept that.

At first, I thought this was a great situation, but now I’m just bored out of my mind.

Using today as an example:
I worked for maybe 8am about 10.30am…..attended a meeting… been for 2 walks…. had a long lunch…. between YouTube, online forums, paying bills, checking personal emails…. ive still got 2 hours!

I enjoy my job—it pays well, offers great benefits, and is conveniently located. So, should I just sit here? Is the problem with me? Do I persue an online side hustles?. Any suggestions? I then get more mad when I see the organisation hiring even more…. meanwhile I'm just getting a pay check….

WWYD?

Education & Work

Comments

  • pyramid on 31/10/2024 - 15:14
    +9

    Just chill….

  • oscargamer on 31/10/2024 - 15:15

    What's your job?

  • mapax on 31/10/2024 - 15:22
    +2

    Wanna swap jobs?

  • TheBilly on 31/10/2024 - 15:25
    +22

    So… as a high level manager I can tell you.

    You are only efficient and that's where it ends.

    This is not necessarily a good thing. The fact that you need to be instructed at every single move on what to do and you just sit there waiting for your next task is really odd and is probably something you can use your free time to look at improving.

    Exceptional employees create ownership of tasks and systems and take over aspects of the operation. You may still have the same title but through your efficiency and control over an aspect of the workflow you effectively muscle into owning the task. My best team members have taken over aspects of the workflow and eventually get to a point where they are permanently managing 80% of an operation and then may have 20% spare time to take on random unexpected tasks.

    It is very rare for my team to need to ask for tasks on a daily basis. They identified where their services are needed and took ownership in that space. The employees that need to be allocated something at every single point are the worst kind. Even if they can finish that allocated task in 5 minutes.

    Ultimately though you can just sit back and chill… nothing wrong with that either.

    • Mintee on 31/10/2024 - 15:39
      +4

      Ah, so I fully respect and understand where youre coming from here…. and this is another conundrum in itself I have tried this approach also and identified gaps in workflows and optimisation in internal processes, but often are stuck at red tape.

      Im going to provide you with an example, in a previous organisation, we had imported goods where daily we would send to the supplied adjustments as to the shipping locations for example a toy departs from hong kong, instead of going to our warehouse, id email the supplier and say 'please ship directly to store xyz' which they would adjust. This was my task, to do this daily.

      I was given this task, and understood, it; but what I was able to do was automate this, instead of manually sending adjustments have the system extract the source location and destination, reconcile, and automatically notify the supplier (since the supplier couldnt handle system integrations)

      In my current organisation if I was given the same task… I would be stuck at
      - Automating the extraction, as the other team that doesn't have time for me
      - If I want access myself, that's not allowed.
      - Then require approval for this automation….
      - Provide a cost benefit analysis on automating this task….
      I kinda lose motivation and give up

      To further add to this; just because this happened like last month, id actually get spoken to in attempting to make it more efficient and effective but the 'current process works' and its 'not the priorirty' .

      • Tambani on 31/10/2024 - 16:32

        There are political dimensions to this I think you may not be getting. What authority do you currently have to set up an automation? Is that your role? Have you discussed your professional development goals with your manager and been given the authority to become more entrepreneurial or independent in your approach to work?

        It's possible that your idea of ownership and your manager's idea of ownership aren't aligned. (Of course, it's also possible you just have a bad boss who isn't invested in your professional growth).

      • TheBilly on 31/10/2024 - 16:41
        +1

        I can't comment specifically as I don't understand your work.

        But with the example above, why do you even have to optimise it. If your manager was processing orders every day manually and now you just process them manually. That is now one thing that you will just do to perfection from now until forever in a manual way, and one thing your manager does not have to do. Slowly, slowly you will fill up your day with tasks that other people did and now you do until you are no longer bored.

        I understand that you mean well and you want to make things better. But that is not what is required by the sounds of it.

        If you want constant improvement, you will be sadly disappointed. Organizations are systematic and they change when they need to change, not when you need them to change. Maybe consider starting your own business and run it your way?

        • trankillity on 01/11/2024 - 10:38

          This simply doesn't work for many people. Yes, there are "worker bees" that are happy to manually do a task repeatedly - but there are also people who see a process that wastes time and manual labour and want to automate it.

          If OP is one of those people and is stuck in a role where he simply cannot do that, OP needs to look for a new job/career change.

    • Seraphin7 on 31/10/2024 - 16:23
      +2

      The employees that need to be allocated something at every single point are the worst kind. Even if they can finish that allocated task in 5 minutes.

      I will vouch for this unreservedly. I have a mountain of things to get through without needing to direct on the minutia of tasks. It's hence the reason I like to keep my teams lean … if I have to "find things for you to do" then I probably don't need you.

  • Caped Baldy on 31/10/2024 - 15:39
    +2

    Living the dream.

  • CodeXD on 31/10/2024 - 15:42
    +2

    Do you work in the APS? 🤣🤣🤣

  • BoltThrower on 31/10/2024 - 15:47

    You're lucky, but If you're really bored you could invent the job that your company is lacking, then apply for it. The staff are incompetent? Train them.
    Don't just find something to do that needs doing and get paid in compliments and office stationary.
    If you're providing a valuable service to your company, the pay should be commensurate. To not do this puts them in a position of guilt and to counter that feeling you'll be reduced by being punished or dehumanized in some way. Your efficiency will be seen as being the worst type of employee. Good point about taking initiative, but that was out of line. The worst type of employee are the lazy, incompetent, intoxicated, jokers and saboteurs.
    Been there. Boss was a pot-head in a mining company, and he'd get stoned with the drop-kicks of the crew. (KCGM Fimiston) They'd screw up and sometimes sabotage certain sections to make the best look bad. (shut off pumps, cause spills, jam rocks in conveyors). Been electrocuted with 440V due to exposed wiring. Another boss tried to shut off a cyanide leak without PPE. I left after a rusty bridge collapsed joining two CIL sections.
    You're the worst type of employee though.

  • Aureus on 31/10/2024 - 16:05
    +2

    Ask your boss if you can WFH and then semi-retire.

    • Mintee on 31/10/2024 - 16:09

      🤣

  • Drakesy on 31/10/2024 - 16:37

    Are you in the public sector?

    This is the norm if so.

  • stuffandthat on 31/10/2024 - 16:46
    +4

    I'm somewhat in the same boat, but also don't want to take on any more work because I'm not going to get paid any more and I really shouldn't do more than my colleagues. Equality etc.

  • Loot N Plunder on 31/10/2024 - 17:03
    +9

    The rewards for efficiency are more work not bonuses

  • JIMB0 on 31/10/2024 - 17:22
    +5

    Do your own thing with the spare time. Study, make extra money with a side hustle, browse ozbargain to save money.

    • Malik Nasser on 31/10/2024 - 18:30
      +1

      Exactly.
      Start your own business, work on your own business, whilst getting paid in your current position.
      You are already doing everything that has been asked of you, and have approached your manager, so its not like you are trying to skip out on work.
      This is the perfect opportunity for you to build your future, and not be a wage slave for the rest of your life.

      • Benno007 on 01/11/2024 - 09:40

        Just watch out for any clauses in your contract on IP developed using company resources 😅

  • justworld on 31/10/2024 - 17:42
    +1

    Most jobs are simple, especially employee jobs with no particular management requirements or billing targets. When I was an employee I'd work about 2-3 hours most days.

    I switched to being self-employed and now I earn about 4x as much as I did as an employee (though part of that is natural career progression, but the base rate is much higher too). However, I also work 3 times as hard.

  • AustriaBargain on 31/10/2024 - 19:46

    Your boss probably knows what's truly important to the operations. Your boss wouldn't be threatened by your efficiency if it's making his department make more money or whatever. Unless you're a good fit for his job or something.

  • bobbified on 01/11/2024 - 00:40

    Are you actually going to reply to some of these questions? Your history shows you start posts and disappear after a single reply or so.

    • CodeXD on 01/11/2024 - 09:04
      +1

      They are also too efficient at posting on ozbargain.

  • xylarr on 01/11/2024 - 09:57
    +3

    FIGJAM

  • Darayus on 01/11/2024 - 09:59

    Actually, you must be in the government or quasi-government sector where your job was defined a decade back when technology was not implemented. And protected by the work union.

    So either you enjoy your free time or try to learn some good skill and if you are still exited to do something more then move out to another workplace and make yourself active otherwise in next 2 years will be become a part of the furniture and loose the high pushing high active skills.

  • footscrayvic on 01/11/2024 - 10:05

    Go for a promotion there or somewhere else. No point being bored. Get a better job and get paid more. Or, use the extra capacity you have now to study for your next job.

  • Jeeves48 on 01/11/2024 - 10:27
    -1

    Lots of ADHD characteristics here. Don't think you will ever be happy with a job. Good luck. Getting some "assistance" should be considered.

  • trankillity on 01/11/2024 - 10:44

    So many naysayers in the comments, but I totally get where you're coming from.

    Firstly, it sounds like your boss was promoted due to tenure not due to management capabilities. I suspect that your boss used to do work similar to whatever you do now and has just been there long enough that the organization felt they needed to promote him into management. This rarely works well as it takes a very specific type of person to be a good manager - and it's generally not just someone who's good at the work that the team does.

    Secondly, you will not be satisfied in a role that focusses on repetition and doesn't allow for automation. I would suggest using spare time to skill up in other areas where your desire for efficiency will be appreciated and rewarded. Some focus areas that I would recommend: process analyst, data engineering, data analysis, automation engineer, development operations.

    • Mintee on 01/11/2024 - 11:35

      Yeah so youre right in the tenature part… And this is what i find, he becomes a little too deep in the crux of 'doing' rather then managing… Often any task he says he will do but then forgets about it or doesnt delegate. The time he does delegate will criticise the outcome and almost be the blocker :S

  • AlienC on 01/11/2024 - 11:56

    Wish I had this problem.

    I had the opposite and burnt out trying to chase the never ending dragon.

    Now I just work at half capacity doing half shifts tying not to die or kill myself with more burn out.

    What I have learnt is there is always something new to learn on the job be it something related to your tasks or with the workplace or job itself.

    Sometimes just even keeping an eye out on what others are doing.

    But yeah I don't know how much you could get away with maybe doing a second source of income on your phone or personal laptop so workplace doesn't catch you on their own it network but maybe consider a second job or income stream?

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