Dear Crucial Skills,
How can I address a situation where I’m taking on extra responsibilities without recognition or fair pay, and my supervisor dismisses my concerns?
Signed,
At a Loss
Dear At a Loss,
I’ve lived in Utah most of my life and so have always had a love for mountains. I would walk out the door of my childhood home and this was my view.
Being so close to these beautiful mountains, I’ve gone on many hikes to summit a particular peak, find a waterfall, or to simply enjoy the animals, plants, and fresh air.
On these hikes, there are times of flat ground and ease. But to go up a mountain you inevitably have to go…up. You begin to meet inclines, navigate loose dirt and rocks, and feel a strain as your body works to navigate the climb.
Now, if you have a clear path before you and know that your hike is getting you to your beautiful destination, the pain and the effort are worth the reward. Similarly, extra responsibilities at work may not always be bad, even if they are unappreciated in the moment. If you can see that those assignments will lead you to somewhere you want to go – an eventual promotion, more skills, or even a better position at a new company – then the effort and sacrifice may be worth getting to that proverbial summit.
Conversely, if you don’t know how long the hike is, what your destination is, or how to get where you want to go, that same hike will be much more miserable – and may not even be worth the climb.
If you’re missing details about how to get where you want to go, it’s up to you to get the directions you need. The immediate problem isn’t simply that you have too much work, it’s that you and your supervisor may not have a shared understanding of your role, expectations, and what happens next. While you say your supervisor has dismissed your concerns in the past, here are some suggestions to have a better conversation.
Share Your Facts
Don’t complain or vent. State the facts of the situation. Identify the specific new responsibilities you’ve assumed, how they differ from your original role, and any other pertinent facts, such as comparable workloads and their compensation. Don’t litigate each new assignment individually; take them as a whole to show a pattern. For example, you could say: “Over the last six months, I’ve taken responsibility for X, Y, and Z in addition to my original responsibilities. I’m glad I’ve been trusted with important work, and I’m also concerned that the scope of my role has changed significantly without a corresponding change in title or compensation.”
This gives your supervisor something concrete to respond to rather than asking them to react to a general sense that things feel unfair.
Explore Others’ Paths
Once you’ve stated your path, it’s vitally important you understand your boss’ path as well. As you speak respectfully and invite them to share their point of view, you’ll avoid crippling assumptions. Ask: “Can you help me understand why you’ve given me these new responsibilities?” or simply, “What’s your perspective?”
Listen for information that might change how you understand the situation. Your supervisor may see the additional work as temporary, developmental, expected for the role, or evidence that you’re ready for greater responsibility. You may disagree with that perspective, but understanding it will help you respond to the actual issue rather than to assumptions about their intent.
When you understand their reasoning, you’ll be better able to respond productively. Stay curious, be calm, and be patient as they share.
Decide Next Steps
Finally, the conversation should end with the old journalistic guidelines to a good story: who, what, where, when, and how. Which responsibilities will you own? What can be deprioritized? Will compensation be reviewed? If so, how and when? The goal is to leave with a shared understanding of expectations and clear commitments you can follow up on.
Unfortunately, the skills in our courses can’t guarantee a receptive supervisor or better compensation. If your boss won’t agree on changes or next steps, or if they do agree and don’t follow through, then it’s time for you to make a decision. You need to decide whether the path you’re on is taking you somewhere you want to go. Can you see your way to the summit, or is it time to find a new mountain to climb?
Wishing you the best,
Jordan
