Hey Boss: Stop Being My Timekeeper

“Let’s get it done ASAP.” How many times have you heard this from your boss? Maybe it was an urgent phone call or an email flagged as “high priority.” The pressure of a countdown. Tick, tick, tick… But let’s be real — I bet those demanding “needed it yesterday” calls and emails did not speed up your work.

Your boss cannot make you work faster. The motivation to do great work and do it fast has to come from within.

I have always worked in fast-paced environments. This is probably because I...