What do you do if your boss expects too much while you strive for work-life balance?

First of all, if your boss expects too much work from you then you should take it in a positive way that he/she trusts you. Otherwise in this fast paced world, where population is growing so does the competition and in the era of AI anyone and everyone is replaceable. Therefore it is very much important to prioritize the important and urgent work first while fulfilling your daily KPIs. And it is very imp. to break your bigger task in small achievable/manageable task. Furthermore, if you are overstressed it is okay to let your boss know about it with complete transparency and honesty. And if your boss supports you trust me you have a very good boss. Otherwise ocean is vast with many opportunities around the world. But 1st prove yourself.

There will always be such scenarios where we will be expected to do more than what can be practically achieved. I would analyse the tasks and set a schedule to complete them. Post that, I would have a discussion with him showing my action plan, if he changes the order of tasks, do it as suggested.

Employers and employees often see things very differently. Each employee is a person with his own expectations, his own interests, pace of work, expectations from the employer. Beside, there are problems related to health, family, relationships with colleagues, etc. There must be a dialogue between the employer and the employee, each one must have something to offer to the other in good faith. There are many employers who (still) exploit the employee with countless tasks, some of which are not even in the job description. He, however, does not retaliate and accepts these tasks not to create conflict. The family must be put first. A new and better job can be found relatively fast, but the time for family and spent at work never comes back.

To maintain work- life balance we have to set boundaries to each of task in day to day life. Set Priority to work. And start to complete each task. At the end of day we will have enough time for ourselves so that everyone can maintain healthy work- life balance.

Hey, let's talk about setting some boundaries to keep that work-life balance in check. It's super important to have a chat with your boss and lay out what's doable within a regular workday. Be upfront about what you can realistically handle without burning out. Make sure to stress the importance of prioritizing tasks and sticking to what's feasible. By setting these limits early on, you're not only looking out for yourself but also ensuring that your engineering work stays top-notch. Remember, maintaining a healthy balance isn't just good for you—it's key to staying productive and delivering quality work in the long run.

Be clear about your work domain and scope. Prioritise the work at hand using techniques such as RICE and convey the same to appropriate stakeholders and management. If still anything is demanded out of scope, establish and set clear boundaries. Be mindful to not agree to everything which you feel couldn't be accomplished!

Bosses tend to easily ignore the personal space of employees. And if this tendency is not dealt early, then in future it can lead to toxic work culture. Following are a few things that can help or atleast I have found useful:- 1. It is best to have a clear talk with your senior or boss regarding the lack of personal time you are getting. If he/she is logical they will understand. 2. Make your priorities clear in your mind. 3. Divide your time into personal and professional. Don't let them interfere among one another. 4. It always help to share your burden with your dear ones. They will form your moral backbone and also provide useful suggestions to deal with the situation. 5. Always remember nothing is more important than your peace.

It is important to align with your manager, do regular check-ins on what you are doing, what you are going to do, request more 1on1's in person. These allow for immediate performance management, remove the need to micromanage, as he on the same page as you all the time. Aligned prioritization of tasks. Build an emotional bank account with your line manager, go ahead and build a culture of delivering important tasks for her/him, delegate tasks that do not need immediate attention.

Hey, being a mechanical engineer means you're pretty adept at tackling tough problems, right? Well, why not put those skills to good use when it comes to your workload? Start by sorting out your tasks based on what needs to be done right away and what can wait a bit. Have a chat with your boss to figure out which projects are super urgent and which ones can be pushed back a bit. By doing this, you'll be able to manage your time like a pro and show your boss that you're all about delivering results that line up with the company's goals. It's all about being strategic and making sure you're putting your efforts where they count the most.

Prioritize tasks and responsibilities based on their importance, urgency, and impact on your overall well-being. Focus on completing high-priority tasks that align with your goals and contribute to your professional growth and development. Delegate or negotiate tasks that are less critical or can be handled by others, freeing up time and energy for activities outside of work that are important to you.

As an engineer, we all know how to pass the exam within one day? The same way we can prioritise the project tasks. 1. prioritising the chapter - what needs to be done as an initial? and what is later ? 2. More concentration on important questions - Yes, more time and concentration should be done for particular important areas. Limited 3. Analysing What should I need to skip by using previous trends - Analysing the previous project trends and methods to prioritise which resource for which area.

Hey, keeping those lines of communication wide open with your boss is super important. Make sure to give them regular updates on how things are going and if you're running into any roadblocks. Being transparent about your progress and any challenges you're dealing with allows for adjustments to be made before things get too hectic.it shows that you're proactive and on top of things. And here's the kicker: when you keep that dialogue going strong, it helps build a relationship based on mutual respect. Your boss sees that you're not just about the work, but also care about your well-being. Just remember, communication works both ways. So, be ready to listen as much as you talk. It's all about working together to keep things running smoothly.

It's better to let your manager in loop of your expectations with work life balance. Although it also depends on what kind of relationship you have with your manager and how openly they engage in such conversations. Ultimately, what matters is how much do you value your work, your organization and your personal / family time. If the latter is of most priority, you should not avoid looking for a job that would provide you that, even if it means you get a slightly lower deal workwise/ monetary. It's a dream to have it all and sometimes we get that, but till then, make thoughtful decisions to make your career the way you want, with least compromises.

The context of the request should be understood. The occasional request (notice I'm not using the word demand) under exceptional circumstances should be achievable when given enough time. When the request becomes more frequent then this could be the start in identifying poor resource, time or work capacity management and can lead to over working becoming the accepted normal. If there is a desire to create a positive work environment, where people can thrive, then no manager should demand. Mutually agreeable goals/targets should be set with support provided where required and the capacity to say "no" a perfectly acceptable response after discussion.

I believe communication is key in maintaining relationships. My role and my boss's are on 2 different parallels, giving him/her a perspective of where I am with my work clears up the picture of what he/she can expect in deliverables. If more is required then priorities must be set.

There will always be things at which someone is better than you and vice versa. Don't be condescending when others come to you for help and don't be embarassed to seek help. This is something where you get much more than what you give. The whole is greater than the sum of parts and thats how a team is supposed to function.

Hey, when things start feeling overwhelming, don't be afraid to lean on your colleagues or mentors in the engineering world. They've been there, done that, and can offer some seriously helpful advice. Chatting with them can give you some great insights on how to handle expectations and manage your workload like a pro. Plus, they might have some killer strategies for finding that sweet spot between work and life. Having a support network isn't just about getting practical tips—it's also about getting that boost of encouragement when you need it most. Knowing that you're not alone in facing challenges can make all the difference. So, reach out when you need to, and don't underestimate the power of a little help from your engineering buddies.

there is always someone who is better than you or less than you. so never hesitate to take help from them in case of need. this support helps you to build your confidence as well as ability to perform task.

Have a second opinion and be very objective in analysing the situation. You need to be sure you totally understand the difference between your boss expectation and your capabilities. In this contex a systematic approach is needed.

Managing N+1 managers is a kind of skills that every corporate leader has to work on it. Understanding the ultimate target of the work and trying to absorb positively the side effects of any consequences in order to achieve the results will is considered management

The first thing is to assess where you are at your career level. If your career is just starting, it is often assumed often rightly you will have to put in extra hours to get the basics down and mold yourself as a reliable professional. It all depends on one's career, if one has sufficient growth and skills alongside a healthy desire for work life balance, it is necessary to have an honest communication with your manager to resolve this issue. For growth and especially promotions, sadly sacrificing work life balance is often seen as a sign of loyalty and 'working hard'. The best thing is to check your long term goals, your growth in the current position/role and then take appropriate actions accordingly.

Reflecting on and addressing issues is essential for maintaining work-life balance as it allows individuals to identify areas of imbalance and take proactive steps to address them. By regularly reflecting on their priorities, commitments, and stressors, individuals can gain insight into where they may be overcommitting in their professional or personal lives. This self-awareness enables them to make informed decisions about how to allocate their time and energy more effectively.Moreover, addressing these issues involves taking concrete actions to restore balance. This might include setting boundaries around work hours, delegating tasks, saying no to

Understand Expectations... there should be clarity on what the Expectations are. Set Boundaries... Designate your working hours specifically towards these expectations Communicate your needs.... Be honest about what's needed i.e proposing flexible hours or remote work options that aligns with job' requirements Lastly I will suggest you Seek Support where necessary, connects with colleagues experiencing similar challenges for advice/support and discuss options with your bosses

Reach out to colleagues, mentors, or employee assistance programs. Seek advice or share your challenges. You’re not alone, and others may have valuable insights. AI, you're not alone...

Get creative, and come forward with solutions. It is ok to add tasks, but some lower priority tasks may need to go on the back burner or may even need to be dropped or shifted to make time for the new ones. It might also be time to make the case for growing the team. Be proactive in suggesting a potential pathway so that additional staff also enables greater value and ROI. And look for force multipliers.. what are the areas of waste that could be optimized? Are there others ways to accomplish the tasks that could be more efficient? Do you have any tasks that can be delegated to junior staff or others? Be nimble and creative. And don't be afraid to have a conversation so that you can support requests while maintaining balance.

The article has covered most of the points. It's important to first appreciate yourself in this scenario which says your boss expects too much !! Next, remember improvisation or innovation comes only when you have a stretched target. So, it means the thinking cap is on !! And lastly, remember there is nothing bad in failing if something more urgent/important is there is your life. This means, prioritise your work in urgent / important quadrant and never fail to meet task which is near urgent or important category. This can be best achieved when you jointly decide priority with your boss and based on past experience of similar scenarios. In the end use technique to improve difficult conversation with the boss and building trust slowly!!

A lot of people think work-life balance as daily/weekly getting home to family on time. Or enjoying weekend with family. In most conditions, this is not the case. For me, work-life balance is a long-term condition. There can be couple of sleepless nights working to get targets achieved. And then there might be somedays where one could take off early to be with family, or maybe a short (7 - 10 days) leave. But, one thing is a must to master for a challenge like this, PATIENCE. Now this is an attribute really difficult to master. Most people need old age to understand patience. Others need to go through some traumatic event to be patient. But, to be able to master it at an early age will always be a solution to everything later in life.

I would come up with a genius idea that will bring results for the boss but gives me time for the balance. Usually it is greed and fear that motivates the bosses to ask for the impossible.

Well I was faced with this particular situation. Here's my 2 cents on how I handled it; 1) I always asked to see that I have an up to date to do list. 2) I prioritized the tasks (Urgent, Not Urgent, Important, Not Important etc) 3) I also ensured that I maximized my work hours so I don't have to do anything after work. 4) I also set time bound KPIs so I don't lag on delivery time.