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You should want your juniors to be honest with you. Being annoyed because you didn’t speak up when you were a junior is entirely your problem. Be a better manager than the one you had and talk to them. That being said just saying “no” is obviously not okay at any level but explaining what else they have going on or why they may not be able to help immediately is always encouraged .
It should never be no. It should be around how to prioritize
You need to find a way to be hungry (and want to push yourself) but of course not kill yourself. Some good advice here but always keep that balance in mind.
Jony Ive when interviewed recently shared his opinion on focus. He mentioned being focussed is about going to bed and waking up wanting to create something with every bone in your body, an idea you think is absolutely brilliant, that you are infatuated by. But you say no to it because you are focused on something else. I appreciate people who are focused and have discipline to say no.
CW3, it's a good thing you went client-side. Asking whether there's anything "worth" paying your dues for is ridiculous, as if you're the first generation that's had less-than-stellar assignments or long hours. What's "worth it" is a steady job, a paycheck, chances at future opportunities and a crazy-high salary in the future, all without going to law or med school. No one had to explain that to me. If you don't appreciate it, I guarantee someone else will.
Well-paid leadership positions still exist. Opportunities still exist. And making a fairly cushy living writing mildly clever tweets about burgers exists, which, lest we forget, isn't really that "god awful" or difficult, even though it can feel like it. Unless you were born rich, that's an opportunity.
Which is why your "failing model" point is moot. Advertising has been getting tougher and less rewarding since the Mad Men era, but over-working employees isn't the cause, so it's not relevant. And that's why I say, with no malice, that if the carrot isn't big enough, you should leave the industry. There's a line around the block to take your place, and they're lined up because they know it's a sweet gig.
My point with the writer/artist thing is that, if this job was easier and 100% creatively fulfilling, that line of applicants would grow even longer and be filled with actual published writers and artists who'd get through the door before you or me. The fact that it's tough is the reason we get a bite at the apple in the first place, so I'm not so quick to look a gift horse in the mouth. In a lot of ways, this biz is unfair, but in others, it's very, very fair. But it's all a matter of perspective...
Good for them
I was the first one in and the last one to leave when I was a jr not only to finish word, but to ask for more. I’ve got some jr’s working for me now who stroll in at 10 and enjoy hour and a half lunches. What happened?
Yes, that's all anyone is saying. That there's value and growth in hard work and that a proactive attitude will lead to opportunities. And that the opportunities come paying dues, and usually go to the people who don't need to be convinced to work hard. How is any of that controversial?
It's all relative. What's everyone else's plate look like?
Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
If it were solely up to me, they'd be fired. And juniors, know that the ECD regularly asks me who is not performing.
There’s a whole department hose job it is to make sure you have an appropriate amount of work.
So is the issue here that the person saying “no” is junior? What, Junior staff does does not get to determine that their plate is piled too high and can’t hold anyone? Junior staff should say “yes” no matter how dire their situation might be? They just don’t get to say “no”???
If you’re doing the bare minimum, consistently taking long lunches, and/or are often seen browsing the Internet during work, then saying “no” is not acceptable in my book. However if you feel that you’re genuinely too busy to immediately say “yes”, I’m ok with “no” as long as it’s “no, because...” or “sure, but I have to do X, Y, Z first...”
Common sense is king. If you’re leaving at 4 and playing ping pong all day, don’t ever say no. If you’re there til midnight all week, draw a line in the sand. Forcing overworked juniors to take on more breeds bad habits and corner cutting. If they’re too overwhelmed to learn, you’ll be dealing with their mistakes for years
@CW3 get out. Go be an accountant or something.
This is a different generation, I never once said no, not one time. I would ask for support or input or a longer timeline if I had a ton on my plate.
@CW3 you’ll never be as cool as I am. Not with those nipples. Pathetic.
@Mccann 2 you make a solid point.
Honestly? I say no a lot. When I’m overloaded on 10 projects & don’t have time to sit at my desk and have worked every weekend for the whole summer. I say no, and I leave the building.
But I’d been here for a year and a half before I said no. So take that for what it’s worth.
Juniors have a right to say 'no'. It doesn't mean that it makes sense in every situation but they should always have the ability to say no and share their rationale. It's you as a manager to set expectations if you are not aligned as this is your team to manage. If you don't like them saying no, then set expectations to what they can't say no to or you're going to have problems later.