24072019 SMART work

The day was taking forever, case work, approvals, usual stuff.. I just felt on the brink of burning out at this point. I have been sleeping in quite a bit and taking 1 rest day per week (otherwise it would be 1 day per fortnight). I had an alumni event to go to at night so I guess mingle and drinks would chill me out.

The lecture was on SMART work, stimulating, mastery, agency, relational and tolerable demands. As it turns out, humans can't be vigilant in their job for long. Which was probably why autopilot was invented, and planes are general controlled by the pilot for 2 minutes for take-off and landing. TWO MINUTES?! The US apparently now have this rule where the pilots have to touch the controls for more than 2 minutes, so that's reassuring. 

In all seriousness, automation is an issue. There was this slide where the computers were operating on a patient and all the nurses had to do was set up and clean up. It is a risk of being overqualified in the workplace when the machines are chosen to do our jobs. Culture would sour as people don't feel needed, unmotivated to be present at work and slip into a poor mental state. It is definitely an issue when budgets are tight and "cutting" is the way to go. 

Being in the financial industry, I am often stuck in a catch 22 situation. Yes I want my team to work effortlessly and stress less on menial bullshit, at the same time how do I convey that to my higher ups that in the short term there are going to be costs associated. They often want "proof" and certainty that something is going to work out with zero risk. Sometimes, due diligence can be a an obstacle, as it certainly is for me. Policies and "things have always been done this way" can trigger me in different ways. 

With all due respect, people I work with are respected in their industry, but when someone has been there for too long, they get set in their ways, and not often do they get their hands dirty. So, what is my plan,

1. Stick with something instead of pushing back

Instead of fighting with everything, take something on for a change. Currently, I am doing a few things that I don't particularly enjoy but I can see a benefit in doing it - which is letting the higher ups know I am on their side. Hey I want your company to be thriving too, I'm on your side.

2. Proactively search for faults

That sounds quite pessimistic but once you can see potential faults in systems, you're almost indestructible. 

3. Be nice. (FFS)

Yes LiAnn, just be nice to people, this is more a reminder for myself. Quite often, when I am working on something, I don't want anyone near me. I don't want distractions. I just want to concentrate because I am in my flow. Do not touch my flow. And often times, I am super focus with a resting bitch face, if someone does distract me, and even though we are good friends, you will get a "what do you want". It's like being possessed and Mr Hyde is protecting my concentration. 

I'm just human.

L