Crossed Lines Very recently the CEO and CFO of my company decided that my assistant wasn't already busy enough and they gave her another project to work on which involves a tremendous amount of time on her behalf in order to be done properly. She could do the job half-assed or a little more meticulously than she does and free up some time, but that's not her style. She's very industrious and diligent, which is great but her time investment in this project is having some negative repercussions in terms of her normal responsibilities getting enough attention.

I feel bad for her; I know that when the people who actually sign your checks (as opposed to me, her manager) give you something to do you really want to do it right. She's industrious to begin with, but she's totally full bore into making this particular project complete on schedule with a deadline they gave her. The thing is, as bad as I feel for her, I think that the time she is investing is too much at the cost of what I need her to do.

These projects doled out by the CFO and CEO are important, I don't doubt it, but they are more clerical in nature and don't require the expertise that my assistant possesses. She's a valuable asset to my daily routine and now she's been diverted for what I consider an inferior purpose. Not to mention the extra work has made her grumpy and not fun to be around. Sometimes I wish I had my own office again. Maybe I should negotitate for that when my contract terms come due ...
  ¶ 10:29 AM