Three Tips to Survive Understaffed Period
Gahhh!! I just have to vent my frustration somewhere and well, since I like writing, I suppose I can just share here. The problem of being the lowest life form in a small team is your colleagues (which, of course, all have higher rank), no matter how nice they are as a human being, will throw you all kind of shits because:-
(a) They have higher rank;
(b) and hence, too busy to do that kind of shits; or
(c) they have to review and hence, cannot do
Which means all ground work which needs you someone to do, will be thrown to the lowest life form in the team a.k.a. me.
Oh gosh, have you ever been in the same situation? I thought I have escaped this route after 9 years of working but apparently in my 8th year, I have become the lowest form again. Bummer.
If you are in the same situation and having the same sentiment, let's take a deep breath and calm ourselves by looking at the beautiful waves crashing upon Bronte Beach in Sydney. *inner peace*
It was not this bad actually when I just joined last year. Okay, it was bad and I nearly quit within one month but at least, it was not this bad when the number of manpower is reduced to the number associated with death in Chinese character. Anyone has an idea how to survive in an understaffed environment? I suppose one can:
(1) Prioritize
You know just like in those "castle-under-attack" game, you have to fend your castle against attacks from many areas. If the arrows are still afar, lets not deal with them first. We should deal with fires which have been started right outside the castle's door. When the fire is lit, the smoke will fly right to your superior's nose and expect some barking when that happens. Ew.
(2) Swim under the radar
In times like this, exposure means more and more jobs and that means bad news. Even to the point of suicide. Lay low, disappear when need to.
(3) Avoid all contacts
With those people who potentially give you unnecessary stuff, which are not really part and parcel of your salary. Yea, useless stuff must be avoided at all cost. Doing that does not mean higher bonus anyway.
