alex trebek fan blog

things are going pretty okay for me work-wise, i now get to manage my own client team. i can’t talk in specifics about my work really because a lot of it is top secret as per my non-disclosure contract but here are some interesting things i’ve been doing:

i do a lot of assigning work which means considering people’s strengths and assigning them tasks based on that. it’s a process that can be a little stressful when i’m in a bind and i just need people to get as much work done as possible, but it’s a learning process that i’m enthusiastic about and that i look forward to getting to work smoothly

i provide feedback and guidance and respond to any employee questions. i’ve gotten my own feedback from people working on my team saying that i’ve been pleasant to work with and that it shows that i really care about what i’m doing and that they never feel antagonized or singled out when i have to provide a suggestion for improvement. i also am responsible for fielding any questions people have (and there are a LOT as the work we do can get very complicated and strange situations for which there are no specific protocols often come up)

client communication has become a task i’m slowly learning to handle, which means responding to emails from clients, negotiating deadlines, requesting documentation, etc. etc. it can be stressful, but i have received quite a bit of positive feedback re: the quality of work from me and my team lately which really makes all of it worthwhile

communicating with other team leads for our other clients: some of the people on my team do work for other client teams and so i often have to sit down at the beginning of the day and determine how to prioritize work assignment, ask them if they can spare any of their employees to do work for me and vice versa

i also started acting as “evening office supervisor” in october. two days a week i work regular 9 am to 5 pm hours, but the other three days, i work 1 pm - to 9 pm. it definitely means a decrease in time spent for socializing outside of work, but i think it’s been a rewarding experience. because all other supervisory employees/my boss go home around 5, it’s my job to supervise the people who work from 5 - 9 pm. often it just means assigning them more work if they run out/fielding any questions they have, sometimes it gets more complicated than that. but i am liking it and i feel honoured to have been entrusted with this responsibility.

i’ve also befriended quite a few of my co-workers and we sometimes even hang out socially outside of work. having people who genuinely like you and enjoy your company working alongside you has made things so much better for me.