Keeping Going
I have posted before about the difficulty of remaining productive on less important issues when there are key objectives to be addressed.
The reason why I felt that this was important was because of the need to continue to "move things forward" and be proactive.
I am experiencing another productivity issue at the moment. Basically we have irons in the fire that need to come to fruition. If they don't then I suspect that the main sharholder will make a fundamental decision, though I am not sure in what format that will be.
I'm finding it hard to keep doing the background stuff whilst this is going on. Its almost as though its pointless yet, if one of the other projects is realised, this peripheral work will become important.
I can't do any more on the critical projects other than let the rest of the team finish the tasks that the customers have asked them to do and then wait for the decision.
Not having clear, definable objectives and things to do is, of course, not what someone with AS really needs. In most of my previous companies it wasn't an issue because they were large and there were always things going on in the background. At the moment its a question of "watch and wait" as doing anything else, to be honest, is basically futile.
Does anyone have any thoughts or views?
It's difficult, but
It's difficult, but sometimes the wait and see approach is the best. I'm in a workplace where we are inundated with work but do not have nearly enough people overall to manage it or enough specialist staff to do the more complex cases, which then get further and further behind.
I find it frustrating being told to do work I'm not good at and which I'm very slow at doing when I could be zipping through other work that's being left and also have enough training to do some of the specialist cases. I noted to a co-worker that I was concerned about losing the skills I already had and she basically said everybody had the same issue, too bad too sad never mind.
I felt fluey and sick for a couple of days after that discussion and only now feel better now that it's the weekend. Another co-worker whose opinion I value quite a lot said I should just do whatever I feel most comfortable doing because we have so much work piling up anything that's being done is a plus. I just don't want to get told off by anybody because then I feel ill and fluey.
Less Than Thought
I am re-visiting this posting because I have had a lot to do this last month and was beforehand worried about my ability to get through it all.
The thing I have found is that there is invariably less than I first envisaged. I have made a start on a number of projects this week and cleared them much quicker than I anticipated.
Again, the thing that I have found most beneficial is not worrying about what "may" be ahead. My Asperger tends to dictate that I do this.
I have been getting through things quicker and reducing the backload
Working Productively
I am very pleased at the moment with the way I am working productively in my new job.
I have been there 6 months now and have acquired a reasonable understanding of the work tasks and what is required of me.
Because it has been going quite well I am being given additional tasks. I feel that this is good news: a) because it indicates that they are happy with me and feel that I am capable and; b) because it provides me with purpose and keeps me busy.
Both of the latter points are important to me from the perspective of having Asperger. I need to feel I am doing something worthwhile and working towards something which is of benefit and has a purpose to it.
I also like to be busy. There are a number of advantages of this, not least of all because it keeps my mind active. This prevents it from straying onto negatives which can cause me to fret and worry about pointless and unnecessary things unnecessarily.
The other thing that I am really pleased with is that I am not getting anxious about all the work that is ahead. I feel I am "in control" of my workload and that I can work through things and get them done.
I find that when I am not anxious, have the right conditions, am not being put under pressure from third-parties or am worried about my position or the surrounding environment, I can work very productively.
My aim now is to "up my game" by delivering even more and becoming yet more productive! I have found this very useful in the past as it creates a very positive impression amongst others, particularly the managers I work for.
It builds up a kind of "work equity"; goodwill that, if things get difficult later and problems arise, mean that people give me the benefit of the doubt.
Has anyone lese found themselves in this kind of situation?
Continuing to Work Productively
Following on from my last posting and that of the person before me....
I am really getting up to speed now with the work I am producing. I am "knocking it out" very quickly and am well ahead of my game. As my last blog posting mentions, my ultimate boss praised me yesterday and said that everything I do is excellent!
It takes the pressure off of course and ensures that no Asperger-related negatives like anxiety or low self-esteem have been allowed to develop.
My next stage is to push the boat out even more and start trying to make a real name for myself!