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The 2023 Healthy Minds Study Faculty/Staff Survey revealed some concerning trends: Overall, 64% of faculty reported “feeling burned out because of work” either somewhat (30%), to a high degree (19%), or to a very high degree (15%). For staff in higher education, turnover during the 2022-23 school year was the highest it has been since CUPA-HR Higher Education Employee Retention Survey began tracking it seven years ago. Navigating feelings of being overwhelmed at work is common, especially in higher education, but by addressing these concerns with your boss, you can take steps to find a more sustainable work-life balance. This can be a challenging conversation to have, but luckily, there are steps you can take to make sure you’re well-prepared to get your point across.
1. Get your facts straight
Before approaching your boss, take some time to assess your workload and identify some specific areas where you feel overwhelmed. By preparing concrete examples and data points that illustrate the extent of your workload, you can more adequately show your boss how your workload is affecting your performance.
2. Choose your moment
Asking your boss for an impromptu sit-down immediately after their hour-long meeting with the provost isn’t likely to garner the results you want, nor is 4:30 pm on a Friday afternoon. Even if you and your boss have a great relationship, it’s best to be a bit strategic and find a time to discuss your concerns with your boss when they are likely to be receptive and available.
3. See your boss as a teammate
At the end of the day, your boss wants you to be productive and committed to your job. Going into the conversation seeing your boss as an adversary is not likely to win you success. Instead, approach the conversation with a constructive mindset, and emphasize your desire to perform at your best. Throughout the conversation, use “I” statements to express how you are feeling overwhelmed but be honest about any factors, such as unrealistic deadlines or insufficient resources that are contributing to your feeling of being overwhelmed.
4. Have a solutions-oriented approach
While your boss might have other ideas of how to help, it’s best to come to the meeting with some ideas of your own: after all, you know your tasks best! Some ideas you could propose could include prioritizing tasks, delegating responsibilities, or restructuring deadlines, but stay open to other solutions that your boss may have.
In the best-case scenario, your manager will be receptive to your suggestions and you can work together to make improvements to your workload. But what if the meeting doesn’t go the way you hoped? What should you do then? Fear not, I have some suggestions for that, too:
5. Remember that your boss has a boss
Even the most well-meaning manager will sometimes have their hands tied by outside forces, such as unrealistic institutional goals, understaffed offices, or limited budgets. If you can get them to share their insights into the confines within which they are working, you may have a better understanding of the current situation, which can give you more information to help you plan your next steps.
6. Seek out other resources
Many higher education institutions offer counseling or other mental health services. It’s to your benefit to inquire about available support systems or resources within your organization that could assist you in managing your workload. You should also think outside the box when it comes to managing your workload: is there training that might help you do your job more effectively? A new technological program? A project-management tool like Asana that could help? Your institution might already offer that for free!
7. Keep following up
After the discussion with your boss, don’t be afraid to keep following up to review any action steps or decisions made. Maintain open communication regarding your progress and any ongoing challenges, and keep a record of these discussions: if nothing is resolved, it may be helpful to escalate the situation to your HR representative, and showing that you have made proactive steps is to your benefit.
8. Take care of number one
Above all, remember to prioritize your own well-being throughout this process. This is a time to put self-care first: you can’t pour from an empty cup. Don’t feel guilty about taking your required breaks, using your vacation time and sick time, and setting limits on your time — you’ve earned it!
I get it: bringing up problems to your manager can be scary. No one likes to admit that they’re feeling overwhelmed. But it’s important to remember that a big part of your boss’s job is to manage you and your workload: if it’s gotten to the point where you can’t do it yourself, you need to involve your boss so they can help you. Preparing yourself ahead of time can ensure that you have the best conversation possible, and having the meeting, whether or not it results in tangible changes to your situation, empowers you to take an active role in your job satisfaction.
