High profile job / work-life balance: Dadworkertrackworld

Happened to me once too. I suggested everyone else should moive their desks into the auditorium and workshop if that would help or they could stay and watch a loadout until 2 am?.

I have had the “visibility” argument levelled at me several times and it basically boils down to presenteeism i.e. you must be an effective worker because we always see you here rather than being measured on delivered results and measurable outcomes.

Despite my best attempts to convince my senior management that wasn’t the case I never won the argument and therefore ended making myself more visible. This ultimately resulted in my marriage breaking down as I spent more and more time at work.

Ultimately it comes down to a question you need to ask yourself. Is work or my family more important to me? You have the most valuable currency available to you: time. How you spend it is your choice. Spend it on the stuff that matters to you not others.

Like mentioned above if you have managed to get to a relatively senior position without knowing how to play the game hats off.

I don’t agree about presenteeism, though I can see why people think that. It is about being involved with the right people at the right times. Analyse the time you spend with colleagues. How much with the board, how much with heads, how much with peers, how much with teams. If you want to climb the slippy pole you need a greater % with the seniors.

Little tricks of the trade I chuckle when I see them, things like sitting in the atrium right by the entrance on your laptop from 8am whilst most people arrive, Knowing what time the FD goes for a coffee and aim to be in the queue with that proposal in your hand. Time delaying your emails so they send later. Sending the odd out of hours text or taking your bosses call. Actively trying to find a reason to talk to the board and get them to give you a task. I could go on. This sort of thing makes you look visible without necessarily meaning you have to be in the office 24/7.

You see, I’m rubbish at that ^ and other politics. I’m kind of reliant on having a boss whose either interested enough in my career or my career is invested in thier success enough for them to carry me along with them.

My current boss is asking me is asking me to develop a bit more confidence around the office, making my presence felt, deliberately intercepting the uber boss and investing in small talk kind of thing. It’s not natural for me and I believe that’s because I’m from a heads down PSG background, now in the “glamour*” of corporate sales.

*its not glamourous, it’s really hard work inc. travel building pipelines and relationships whillst aiming for a target with a small “m” at the end of it. Expenses account? BP petrol station for lunch more like before spending 5hrs in the car Friday evening.

My Wife was on a course this week.
They were asked what the letters in the company name stood for.
One guy apparently said that his kids say it stood for
Daddy Home Late!
EDIT.
I have been asked to mention that the situation is being addressed, and that work / life balance is becoming more of a focus. They have been great for MrsDTs career & bringing up kids

How does this culture of bloodsucking work all hours in the UK compare with the continent? Is it the same in Germany for example?

When push comes to shove your employer will screw you over. Your kids will give you a hug then ask for coco pops. It’s not easy but family first.

Wise words !

Nobody has a career ! the career has them 😉

Euro’s not as bad as us, US worse than us.

Most of Europe is between slightly better and far better. One supplier i deal with they pretty much need Gods boss to sign off any over time above 8 hours a week. That includes security escorting people off site at 7pm. Including Gods boss. Only people in after 7/before 7 are those on night shift and security.
yeah, they expect you to be good at your job and worth the money. Not brown nosing and “being seen”.

Thing is, there’s nothing wrong with being ambitious and having a family. If you do well in the corporate world, you are going to have to be available. Clearly you dont want to upset your bosses when they ask you to do stuff that interferes with family time, because ultimately doing well at work will pay dividends for your family for the rest of your life.

And there lies the quandary! Only you can define the balance, because it’s so determined by your personality and nature. Personally, if faced with comments like that, I would nod and mumble something conciliatory and move on. Until such time as you feel threatened, do what you think is right.

ask for a face to face meeting to seek clarification, and if necessary help in becoming what she means as ‘more visible’

If that’s at odds with what you are prepared to do – then be open about it. At least she’ll know what your expectations are.

I like the quote about renting you vs owning you.

love these threads with all those new words, basicly youre a manger told to implement a new work process, and for what ever reason your boss told you to be more on the shop floor instead of hiding in an office,or traveling, and youre using your 2 kids which are important as a prop for sympathy, having worked in industry, never heard the excuse im working to hard,you worked at your own rate,or you made mistakes or worse had or caused problems down the line, you had to work the hours you where paid for, and the kids had to sort themselves out, you couldnt ring up and say kids off school so im not working if you couldnt work it to suit your family and company hours time to move on or be pushed.