How do I professionally tell my manager I don't want to join so many night meetings?
You're in a tricky situation, but it's important to set boundaries to maintain your work-life balance. Here's how you can professionally approach your manager about the increasing night meetings:
Prepare Your Talking Points
Before you speak with your manager, think about what you want to say. This will help you stay focused and professional.
Acknowledge the Value: Start by acknowledging the importance of collaborating with the overseas teams and your willingness to participate in some night meetings, like the bi-weekly one. This shows you're a team player and not simply trying to avoid all extra work.
Explain the Impact (Without "I Have a Life"): Instead of saying you "have a life," focus on the impact the increased night meetings have on your well-being, productivity, and ability to contribute effectively during your regular work hours. You can mention:
Fatigue: "Attending multiple late-night meetings makes it difficult for me to be fully present and productive during my regular workday."
Disrupted Routine: "These meetings are starting to significantly disrupt my personal routine and recovery time, which ultimately affects my energy levels for work."
Focus on Core Responsibilities: "My primary focus during the day needs to be on my core QA automation tasks, and the increasing night meetings are making it challenging to dedicate sufficient time to these."
Propose Solutions (if any come to mind): While it's your manager's job to find solutions, having some ideas shows initiative. For example, could some of these topics be covered asynchronously through documentation or recorded updates? Could a rotating schedule for night attendance be implemented?
Reinforce Your Commitment: Reiterate your dedication to your role and the team's success.
Schedule a Meeting
Request a brief, private meeting with your manager. You can send an email like this:
"Hi [Manager's Name],
Could we schedule 15-20 minutes sometime this week to discuss my work schedule and team collaboration? I'd like to talk about how I can best contribute to our overseas partnerships while maintaining my productivity during regular hours. Please let me know what time works best for you."
During the Conversation
When you meet, maintain a calm and professional demeanor.
Start Positively: "Thanks for meeting with me. I really appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with our overseas teams, and I understand the importance of connecting with them. The bi-weekly meeting has been a good way to do that."
Express Your Concern: "Lately, I've noticed an increase in the number of night meetings being scheduled. While I'm committed to ensuring smooth collaboration, attending multiple late-night sessions is starting to impact my ability to be fully effective during my core work hours. I find it difficult to maintain focus and energy throughout the entire day after late meetings, which could eventually affect my quality of work."
Focus on Performance: "My priority is to deliver high-quality work as a QA Automation Engineer. I'm concerned that consistently working these extended hours will lead to burnout and ultimately hinder my productivity and ability to contribute my best to the team."
Ask for Understanding and Solutions: "I'd like to explore if there are alternative ways to facilitate these discussions or if we could find a more balanced approach to scheduling these meetings. Perhaps there are certain topics that could be handled asynchronously, or we could look at rotating who attends the late meetings if attendance isn't critical for everyone."
Address the "Comparison" Subtly: If your manager brings up the overseas team's hours, you can say something like, "I understand that different regions have different work cultures and expectations regarding hours. My focus is on delivering high-quality results within our established work framework and ensuring I have the energy and focus to do so consistently." Avoid sounding defensive or accusatory.
Follow Up
After your conversation, consider sending a brief follow-up email summarizing what was discussed and any agreed-upon next steps. This helps ensure clarity and provides a record.
"Hi [Manager's Name],
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today about the evening meetings. I appreciate our discussion regarding the importance of collaboration with our overseas teams and the impact of frequent late meetings on my daily productivity.
As we discussed, I'm committed to [reiterate your commitment, e.g., 'ensuring seamless communication and support for our global partners'], and I'm hopeful we can find a sustainable solution for scheduling that allows me to maintain my focus and effectiveness during my regular work hours.
I look forward to discussing potential adjustments further.
Best regards,
[Your Name]"
Remember, the goal is to find a sustainable solution that benefits both you and the company. By being clear, professional, and focusing on your performance and well-being, you increase the likelihood of a positive outcome.