Time Management World

Though most people don’t realize it, shifting priorities makes their efficiency drop to all time lows. These sometimes take place so swiftly that you don’t know what hit you but still end up wondering why you aren’t finishing your work

Your immediate goal should be to break this habit so that you can increase your levels of time management and get more work done. But what to do if you have a job where your priorities are constantly being shifted without your opinion? How can you adapt to the negative effects of having your priorities shifted at work by the boss or managers?

This type of environment can definitely be very exciting for some personality types, but only if the “shifts and starts” are meaningful and purposeful. Without knowing or seeing a reason behind such an action, most people end up feeling that they are being jerked around and their talents are not taken seriously.

There are actually documents from scientific studies that examined the effects of shifting priorities. Studies were conducted by scientists in which rats were conditioned to certain noises, smells, and procedures which brought the rats a desired food treat. After the rats learnt the procedures involved, they gained access to this food whenever they wanted. The result was extremely healthy and happy rats. Once the rats reached this healthy state, however, the scientists began to make changes in the rules (shift priorities). Now the rats found that following the “usual procedures” did not get them the desired results. After they learned the new procedure, the rules were changed yet again (another shift in priorities), and the rats had to start all over again. After going through several of these shifts in direction (priorities), the rats initially responded very irritably and with hostility. Then, once they reached a level of extremely maximum frustration, they either sat doing nothing, or in some cases died. Of course we are humans not rats, and our work places are not deliberately manipulated in this way either. But there are some interesting similarities.

Once you reach a point of maximum frustration with priorities shifts at work, then you better consult with your boss about it. Make it clear to the management that what you are merely trying to understand the situation and how you can best adapt to the process and therefore be more productive. Remember that a workplace that has shifting priorities is a situation where you have very little control, so you can either do what it takes to adapt, or just leave the situation altogether by quitting your job.