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Urgh, people who declare how busy they are all the bloody time!

3 replies

TeenLifeMum · 10/11/2025 20:11

Just coming on for a rant. Colleague at equal level of seniority seems to wear being too busy as a badge of honour while failing to meet her objectives. She was good in the more junior role but underestimated how hard the promotion would be. I’ve been at this level for about 8 years and have had similar seniority in other work places so I’ve learned things over the years and get the best from my team.

Colleague has continually complained she’s too busy and recently it came to a head and she declared she’s burnt out. Senior manager has asked me to provide support and I do have capacity. Previously I’ve offered and been turned down but she’s forced to accept my help now. So I’ve taken some of the workload myself as well as offering 2 of my team to support with specific tasks each week.

This morning’s comment on the team meeting was “oh my goodness, I need 7 days to get all my work done this week!” So senior manager offered to do one piece of work to which she replied “no no, I’ll pick that up.”

Why I hate it:

  1. The implication is she’s busier than everyone else
  2. team don’t feel they can say they have capacity and all find “busy work” and equally complain they’re busy
  3. our job is not one that’s ever complete - always more you can do, so I think it just shows she can’t prioritise
  4. i feel she’s totally delusional - I manage more people and have complex jobs in areas she’s got no clue about yet the implication of me “helping” is like I’m underneath her. I’m not.
  5. she’s taken credit for my work before

I want to be a team player but my god she’s making it hard. Not sure what I want to achieve from the thread but it’s good to write it down.

OP posts:
Allaboutthecats · 10/11/2025 20:16

Frustrating but she's clearly struggling. You say she was good in her previous role so I would continue to offer support and share your experience.

TeenLifeMum · 11/11/2025 19:46

Allaboutthecats · 10/11/2025 20:16

Frustrating but she's clearly struggling. You say she was good in her previous role so I would continue to offer support and share your experience.

I’m not sure she is struggling. I think it’s more a habit. She was good previously but always going on about how busy she was so that’s not new in reflection.

OP posts:
wildfellhall · 13/11/2025 10:16

There is something called ‘the Peter principle’ (or something similar) which means most people will be promoted beyond their abilities/potential; consequently most people are working with someone who is out of their depth and struggling.

The solution would be for more flexible structures which allowed people to evolve into their strengths and to stop pretending that everything can be learned on a course.

My last COO was totally anti seeing people, almost always worked from home and had no care for people at all. She was effectively a robot who could occasionally ape emotions. I cannot believe she was put in charge of people.

But that’s business isn’t it?

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