Was going to title this as “Getting pissed” but decided against it. Anyways, how do you guys control your emotions when getting absurd requests? Been a discussion topic in my office for the last few days amongst juniors and want to get your input on this.
I’m not talking about “can we change 2024FY to 2024 fiscal year in footnotes” requests (bc ctrl + f replace that) I’m talking about HEINOUS requests like “hey can we completely reshuffle the deck and change every title and subtitle plus sensitize these 50 ‘so far on the tail of the bell curve the curve becomes a flat line’ situations?” requests. Those ones, like several months into the analysis. How do you keep your cool?
When dealing with frustrating or absurd requests, staying composed is key to maintaining professionalism and mental well-being. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some strategies to handle such situations effectively:
Pause Before Reacting:
Take a moment to process the request before responding. This helps prevent an emotional reaction and allows you to assess the situation objectively.
Assess the Request's Validity:
Determine if the request is truly necessary or if it can be negotiated. Sometimes, seniors may not fully understand the effort required, so tactfully explaining the implications can help.
Communicate Clearly:
If the request is unreasonable, calmly explain the challenges or trade-offs involved. For example, highlight how it might impact deadlines or other deliverables. Good communication often leads to better understanding and compromise.
Detach Emotionally:
Avoid taking such requests personally. As one WSO contributor noted, separating your personal self-esteem from professional tasks is crucial. The absurdity of the request often reflects the situation, not your abilities.
Prioritize and Plan:
Break down the task into manageable parts and prioritize effectively. This can make even the most daunting requests feel more achievable.
Find an Outlet for Stress:
Engage in activities outside of work that help you decompress, such as hitting the gym, pursuing a hobby, or talking to someone you trust. This prevents emotions from bottling up and affecting your performance.
Learn to Say No (When Appropriate):
While juniors often feel they must say yes to everything, there are times when pushing back respectfully is necessary. Use leverage wisely, as senior team members value good juniors who communicate effectively.
Shift Your Mindset:
Reframe the situation as an opportunity to showcase your problem-solving skills or resilience. This can help you approach the task with a more positive attitude.
Remember, absurd requests are part of the job in high-pressure environments, but how you handle them can set you apart as a professional. Keep your head up, and know that these moments are temporary and often lead to growth.
Sources: Help. Feeling Lost, Ridiculous Buyside Requests, Principles; What Are Your Main Governing Principles in Navigating Life and Your Career, Feeling Undervalued? Do This, What do you do when you're overworked? My anxiety is up the roof
Your only answer is stoicism until you get promoted. If a senior deal team member wants to tinker something to hell you don’t get to pushback on that, realistically the only thing you can do is avoid working with seniors who have that tendency to do so.
You have more power in choosing your team only when you built a reputation for eating whatever shit is thrown at you for a long period of time.
To *personally* manage your emotions, I’d recommend distancing the rage inducing request from your next action as far as possible. Got a stupid request that you know will add an unnecessary hour to your day? Before responding passive aggressively or immediately trying to a make a case of why you don’t want to/shouldn’t have to do something over teams - immediately get up from your desk, take 2 laps around the office, maybe even step out side for air for 10 minutes with no devices, then grit your teeth and go back to work. Managing frustration in this job is keeping in sight the ultimate outcome your working towards (that next job on the other side of having good references, the bonus that will fund your side hustle, the promotion whatever) and strategically defusing your nervous system, especially when you’re chronically sleep deprived. Last thing you wanna do is act out and get labeled as the analyst that’s a “headache” to work with , because it’ll only make your experience worse.
Fantastic advise thanks! Your solution is one that I’m following currently; no one in my office has really made a comment that would suggest they’re being difficult or anything (as we don’t want to be labeled as you are describing) and also sometimes the extra stuff might actually be worth the time to incorporate! Thanks for the input here
Omnis facere qui nisi ea. Alias reprehenderit assumenda dignissimos facilis veritatis inventore nemo quia. Tempore et quos eum.
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