One of the advantages I always perceived of exec roles is that you can push your weight around to work on your own hours and decide to take afternoons for kids. But in practice I'm having trouble exercising this type of audacity. Any advice on making those kinds of boss moves without upsetting any apple carts?

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

Maybe I'm just chicken too, but my best success has been when I've had my assistant do it. I am completely honest with her about where I am (PTA meeting, baseball game, my own yoga class) and she holds my boundaries with others. She doesn't feel the need to compromise in the same way I do, nor does she ever tell others where I am. She's very comfortable saying simply "not available."

likesmart

The best way to do it is just as P1 above’s assistant does: simply say you’re not available and propose an alternative. If you provide too much justification or elaborate on your reasons for not being available it sounds like you’re looking for permission (or open to debate). Just say “no” and move to solutions, you’ll rarely be pressed as to why.

like

I think perhaps part of the secret is to stop thinking of it as audacious. It’s not, it’s real life. You’re a grown up and you get to choose how to prioritise your work and life. Decide what works for you, communicate it clearly and simply to those who need to know. Resist any urge to over-explain or justify, and don’t give it another thought.

like

Are you sitting in office with your direct reports on a daily basis, such that they see you leaving early every day and wonder why they can’t do the same? Or are you hybrid/remote and you’re more concerned about declining every 4 pm meeting? I just try to be flexible with my availability. For example, my kids ride the school bus home 2x a week to get to afterschool activities/classes/lessons. But on the other days they go to an aftercare program. If it’s an emergency or important deadline I’ll do evening calls or work after bedtime. If I want to chaperone a field trip or volunteer in the classroom, I just block my calendar. Point being, I don’t set a strict “I don’t work from 4-8 pm”. I just say no when I need to (and suggest an alternative), and yes when I can, and it seems to work out OK.

like

You may not be able to get everything you want but be willing to meet your manager halfway. Like you might agree to work from home on certain days or to make up for any lost time by working longer hours on other days.

Related Posts

Mental health is busy, looking for tips to help manage tasks, currently I supervise 12 therapists in 3 different departments that are all different with unique dynamics in each dept. I still carry a small caseload on top of this. I'm struggling with my patients and worry I am not giving them my best, I wax and wane between focusing on patients and therapists. Looking for advice navigating this type od conversation with my leadership, we have all been asked to work on increase billable time...

like

I was recently diagnosed with high functioning bipolar II disorder and was prescribed a mood stabilizer. I’m worried it may impact my creativity. Would anyone be open to sharing their experiences?

like

Would be nice if the Government legalized marijuana (including for Feds) during this lockdown. Allegedly it is quite effective at making boring things interesting.

like

Putting on some weigh this busy season. I’ve been keeping up my workout schedule. Who knew hours were so high in calories?

likefunny

In the process of interviewing for a strategy/Corp dev position at an activewear/athleisure company and they want me to think of a couple tangential industries that may have companies for acquisition and do a write up. I’m stumped on what else an activewear company would buy besides other activewear companies. I can only think of home fitness (Lulu’s Mirror) or vitamins/supplements. Any thoughts?

like

Truck driver who ran over pedestrians in Toronto turned out to be Armenian Christian. People are in disbelief. Nothing in the news, no mention of word terrorism either. Another mentally ill?

like

Has anybody else experienced (what seems like) irreversible physical damage from working long hours? I worked about a month of 19 hour days 2 years ago (this was the peak of the season where I worked at least 12 hours a day) and my facial skin hasn't really recovered and the experience really aged me.

like

Please help me rationalize through something:
2 kidneys but can only give 1 (potentially):

1) Cousin: 36, mom of 2, lives a fairly healthy lifestyle
2) Dad: 60-65 YO; kidney failure runs in the family, lives an unhealthy lifestyle but this is dad…

What should I be considering in thinking through how to decide? What factors would you think about?

P.S. will go through screening process for both but just want to start thinking about things now

like

For immunocompromised folks: Are you back to working at your office? And if so, what precautions are you taking in a world in which it seems most people aren’t concerned about getting COVID and then spreading it to others?

like

Doctor rec’s? I was in DC before and I used to go to Whitman Walker, an LGBT focused primary care clinic, clean, efficient and friendly, and they understood the LGBT needs, like PrEP, very well, which is mainly what I need from my PCP. Is there such a thing in NYC?

like

Ordered a shroom grow kit and two kinds of spores. I've never taken them and always wanted to. Let's see if they do anything to rewire the brain like some people say!

like

Are y’all finding that HR is preoccupied with Coronavirus and not the (k) plan?

like

Any male 🐟 that can share the experience of starting alpha blockers? I take it at bedtime and feel like I have a head cold in the morning. Dizzy all day too.

like

Anyone use magnetic earrings to promote lymph flow? Notice any effects or have any info to share on that topic?

Any recommendations to avoid feeling sleep towards the end of the work day? 3-5 PM I start doing the famous head bob if you know what I mean 🤣

like

One thing that COVID-19 has taught you?

like

Starting IVF in a month - any guidance in prep for it, things that may help increase success for egg retrieval or anything like that? I started taking supplements advised by my doctor, but curious to hear of anything else! Thank you SO much!

like

Best age to freeze my eggs? I’m 30. Is it too early?

like

Has anyone tried to get an antibody test here yet? How hard is it to get one?

like

More Posts

Hi, anyone working in data engineering domain in pwc ? Pls reply. I have doubts (gt offer fr the same).

like

Please wish me luck on my final interview today. The salary would be life changing for me. 😬

likeuplifting

Folks, one doubt..... I was hired as a senior consultant in dec 2021. I did not nominated for grade change till now. Will they automatically consider me for grade change or do I have to expicitely talk about it with PC ? Also if grade is changed, how is the impact on salary considering the parity check ? Right now I am at 25 lakhs with 8.3 years of experience.

like

Hi Fishes anyone here working in ADDA project

I get crippling anxiety everytime I think about moving to NYC. I've never felt anything like it before.

like

Sorry if this has been asked before, but besides apartments.com, what are resources that you all found useful when looking for cheap apartments in LA?

like

Has anyone worked at Capella University? What was your experience?

like

How many different projects would you show in your book? I’m redoing my portfolio and find it so hard to know what should make the cut...

like

Finally got an offer accepted on a home I love! (In DC) Spent months searching. Next thing is getting to the closing date.

Now I feel super anxious about everything going thru and getting the keys. How difficult is that process of getting to close, have heard the underwriting portion could be a headache?

like

So, how are you guys going to study for the CPA Exam during busy season?

likefunny

HR professionals,
If you could immediately acquire any new skill, what would it be? If you're comfortable doing so, tell us why.

like

Anyone else's district distance learning? How are you feeling about it?

I’m working with a manager who likes to prioritize his ideas over strategic research, I want to be helpful because it’s very distressing to watch ideas being presented without the appropriate research, any advice?

Sharing our Louie…

Post Photo
likeuplifting

Going to Jamaica for a bachelor party Memorial Day Weekend...da hell do I wear?

Pre-covid, I was in the middle of interviewing with Deloitte. They told me the next round would be case interview. This was back in February. Since then, I’ve been put on a BAH project I actually really enjoy. My main motivation for leaving was I felt I was underpaid at BAH. I don’t know what to do. I feel secure in my job right now. Should I email the recruiter back and let them know I’m no longer interested? Or do I do the case interview? I’ve never done a case before being in fed consulting.

like

Interested to hear from people @ IBM ix (or know people who are) - what's it like to work there?

like

For people with Non-technical backgrounds who are now Product managers in the Tech industry, what kind of resources did you use to prep for your interviews? I've had people recommend brushing up on cracking the PM code but there's SO MUCH information out there and it's hard to figure out if I'm looking at the right thing or not. Please share resources that helped you get into PM roles (bonus points if you work at companies like Amazon and Google).

like

If you’re a SQL expert, plz plz comment so I can message you about a query I need help with. Thank you!

like

What is the business strategy behind underpaying homegrown talent? It seems like most firms follow this policy and it leads to high turnover rates that they’re supposedly trying to avoid.

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal