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How to Look Like a Workaholic in a 40-Hour Workweek

by Laura Stack

In a perfect world, we would be judged solely on our results, regardless of what others thought about how or when we got our work done. The good news is that some companies and managers do realize that there are better ways to manage performance than by counting the hours you log at work. Organizations are responding to the needs of workers by continuing to offer and expand arrangements such as flex-time and telecommuting.

The bad news is that, like it or not, corporate mentality is what it is. The 40-hour week is not just an expectation; it’s the minimum, especially for salaried professionals. Self-proclaimed workaholics advertise their twelve-hour days like badges of honor and wouldn’t be caught dead knocking off early.

Just because it’s the norm doesn’t make it right. But you don’t have to defy your boss or your client in a dramatic showdown over hours. Here are some practical ideas that can help you on your way to regaining control over your time.

Workaholics don’t get ahead.

There will always be work that needs to be done. There will always be more to be done than there is time in which to do it. That’s why classic workaholics will never get ahead. As they work to accomplish more and more, their task lists continue to grow. At the same time, as they become tired, stressed, and overextended, the quality of their work suffers.

The workaholic’s energies would be better spent finding ways to get more out of a week than by burning the midnight oil five (or six, or seven) nights a week.

Get noticed in less time.

Unfortunately, workaholics exist for a reason. They tend to be well-respected for their efforts and praised for their dedication to their jobs. But that doesn’t mean that you need to smash the 50-hour barrier every week to command the recognition and respect that you deserve.

This is where productivity comes in. When most people talk about workaholics, the discussion usually revolves around how much time they spend working, or how many hours they charge to clients. It is rare to get a clear idea of just how much these people accomplish in a given day.

Anybody can spend a day keeping busy. It takes real commitment to remain actively productive during working hours. Your clients may notice that you log a lot of hours, but what they really care about is what you accomplish.

In fact, if a client is paying you hourly, racking up the hours may not be a good thing. If you really are putting forth the effort necessary to milk your time for all it’s worth, your stellar results will not go unnoticed.

The early bird gets…a raw deal.

In general, people tell me that staying late gets noticed and arriving early tends not to be. If you are the type that likes getting to work first thing in the morning and heading out an hour or two before the crowd, it might take some attention to detail to make sure that you don’t end up being penalized for having an early riser’s schedule. Just make sure that the people who count realize that while they are still at home in a bathrobe, you are at your desk, getting a head start on your day.

Handle your correspondence first thing in the morning. Your e-mail time-stamp might be the only way someone realizes that you don’t just cut out in the late afternoon because you feel like it. When you leave earlier, you’ve earned it. Those that leave at six or seven at night will also be sure to notice that you have gotten back to them with answers to their questions before they’ve even managed to sit down at their desks the following day.

Get out the door on time.

Make a commitment, even if it is only to yourself. Maybe you have to pick up the kids. Maybe you have volunteer work to do. Whatever it is, a regularly scheduled post-work obligation can do wonders for getting you out of the office at a reasonable hour. Block out the last half-hour of your schedule and don’t hesitate to inform people when it’s time for you to be on your way.

Make sure coworkers and clients know your schedule.

You shouldn’t expect others to come and go at the same time you do. Generally, their schedules are their prerogatives. You do, however, have the right to make sure that their schedules don’t interfere with your ability to get work done. Make it clear when you need to leave, and stick to it. If you need a report in your hands by the end of the day, make sure that everyone knows that you mean the end of your day, not theirs.

Go the extra mile.

Remember, all of this doesn’t mean that we should be petty about watching the clock and race to the parking lot at a precise time. When client demands build up, it is appropriate to put in a long day or week. It shouldn’t become your standard mode of operation, but coming through at crunch time demonstrates to clients that they are your priority.

Valuing your time is a good thing, but if the demands of the job call for burning that midnight oil once in a while, it is okay to step up to the plate. Just make sure that it’s the exception, not the rule.

Laura Stack is a personal productivity expert, author, and professional speaker, who helps workers Leave the Office Earlier® with Maximum Results in Minimum Time™. She is the president of The Productivity Pro®, Inc.—an international time management consulting company. Find out more at www.TheProductivityPro.com.