Always Looking Busy Isn’t Necessarily A Good Thing

Generally, when you look busy, it’s a good thing because you’re doing your work. However, consistently looking busy could make you look overburdened or incapable.

Photo by Tim Regan

You obviously want to look like you’re getting your work done — and we can certainly help you with that if you need it — but you can give off the wrong idea by constantly talking about how busy you are, taking on too much work, or motoring around your workplace like the world is going to end. Jessica Stillman at Inc. explains with some quotes from Mira Zaslove:

Think high achievers work endless hours and are continuously busy? Think again, writes Mira Zaslove, director of international sales and trading at FabExchange. “Ironically the busier you appear, often the less you will move up. I’ve seen smart and dedicated employees fail to get promoted, because they have taken on too much, are working too hard, and appeared too frazzled,” she reports. “If you appear stressed, people will think you aren’t prepared to take on more, and you’ll miss opportunities for new and innovative projects.”

Even if you are busy, find a way to show that you aren’t overwhelmed. Working hard is good, but overworking yourself to try and impress the higher-ups isn’t as effective as you might think. You’ll never get the opportunity to take on more if it looks like you can’t handle more.

7 Great Pieces of Career Advice No One Ever Told You [Inc.]