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Ask HN: Examples of Theft of Executive Function?

3 points by underlogic ↗ HN
Has anyone here experienced a scenario where an employer or coworker offloads so many menial administrative tasks into your workflow that you are unable to seize valuable opportunities for lack of time to think and strategize for yourself?

What did you lose out on and how did it end? What could you have done better?

7 comments

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KuriousCat
If an employee manages to do this to you, I am afraid to say you are not an executive. Part of the skillset you need to have is to be able to get people to do the work you need them to. If this is happening there are few potential causes. 1. You failed to establish clear expectations from some one reporting to you and they have not realized it. 2. You are not perceived as a leader and there is no repercussions to disobedience. 3. You have a personality type that avoids conflict and implicitly shying away from taking it up with the employee. If it is case 2, I would either boot that employee out or change my job. Some times if you are in a leadership position without the clout it is almost impossible to get traction.
brutus1213
I think person meant they can't think by "theft of executive function". You just put out the fire in front of u (or what u are told I guess).
KuriousCat
It is the same thing at a different scale. It shows they are having trouble establishing the work boundaries or lacking a clout to push things back. If there is no leverage to do either of those, it is just a bad job and one needs to move on.
brutus1213
Read about assertive communication. You should push back. Also, make your manager aware how this is affecting your deadlines. Don't think .. well I am getting paid so whatever. That is wrong. Either it eats your hours, your brain energy or something else. Software is too competitive.

I had to deal with a function not in my role, because the person responsible quit. The org was on a hiring freeze so I sucked it up. It was terrible as my goal was not to let the ship sink (that is a terribly low goal to have, frankly, but best under the circumstances). I asked for a pomo (which I believe I will be getting shortly). I also pushed for a new hire to fulfil the function (which has happened now).

So don't just accept shit. My 2 cents.

gladiatr72
Isn't that where someone ties your hands to a table and breaks your fingers?