I've been with my current company for about 8 years, and it was just me and my manager handling everything until recently. I was completely swamped all the time, juggling projects, tickets, deployments, and maintenance. About a year ago, my manager brought in someone to help with tickets, which was great. But six months ago, he hired a bunch of project engineers and specialists, and now my workload has dropped drastically—I'm only busy for about 3 hours a day on a hectic day. I've updated documentation, assisted with tickets, and handled inventory, but I'm trying to figure out how to remain genuinely useful since most of my previous tasks have been taken over. What can I do to ensure that I contribute meaningfully?
5 Answers
Come on, nobody works every second of the day. It’s okay to take a breather and adjust after all that pressure!
It's actually a good thing that your manager is bringing in specialists; it means your work can be more focused and efficient now. You should take this opportunity to become a specialist yourself in the remaining areas of responsibility. Look into security compliance, disaster recovery plans, and supply chain security. There’s a lot to dig into there! Focus on stabilizing and enhancing the environment you manage—this is the time to strategize and document everything, crossing all your T's and dotting your I's. Thank your manager for reshaping the team—it was a smart move before burnout could set in!
Absolutely! This is exactly the right perspective to take. There's always work lurking beneath the surface, and having fewer day-to-day tasks just means you can dig into the more strategic aspects.
For sure! Plus, consider getting a third party to conduct a network audit or pen test—those can highlight critical needs that you may not have considered.
Now that you have some downtime, it’s a chance to step up and help out as a project lead or an architect. Use your broad expertise to identify issues within the organization that can be solved with tech solutions. You know the organization well; leverage that to connect with other departments and anticipate their needs—this will keep you not just busy, but invaluable!
Great advice! Building those connections can really help you find projects that need attention across the company.
Definitely! Plus, it creates a proactive environment instead of just waiting for issues to arise.
You literally have time now to improve processes—like that inventory you did. Think about whether it could be automated. Look for ways to implement improvements across the board. This is a chance for you to shine and show your initiative!
It’s normal to feel disoriented after such a shift in workload. Don’t hesitate to discuss your role and how to best utilize your time with your manager. Bring ideas on areas you want to focus on; it shows you're eager to add value, which could open up new opportunities for you.
Exactly! But for those of us who went from being maxed out to having idle time, it can feel weird at first.