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I don't either Cal or the author would have a problem with exec assistants - they're being paid for that. Where it can be a problem is when there are "attentiv

I don't either Cal or the author would have a problem with exec assistants - they're being paid for that. Where it can be a problem is when there are "attentive" people on a team and "inattentive" people who are ostensibly equals. Team members with higher conscientiousness tend to get lumped with an outsized share of undesirable, low impact busywork because others won't do it. This dynamic can cause problems in all sorts of groups and also at home.

stevezsa8 3y ago
I can relate to this. I'm one of those people who usually had a little too much work to do, but still felt bad when no one else volunteers for a task. Often I'll offer to take it. I'd end up enjoying work less & less and got a bit disgruntled until I was back to my base-line of work. I definitely see it as a weakness in me, but also in my manager who let it happen. As I got older, I started to work at around 90% capacity and grab a tea or chat with a colleague or do some admin for the remainder. This enabled me to jump on to urgent requests and even make extra efforts like physically walking over to discuss the matter. This also enabled me to look out for junior colleagues who seemed a bit stressed.
jkhdigital 3y ago
Exactly. Conscientiousness is a personality trait and those who are lucky enough (yes it is highly correlated with positive life outcomes) to have it in abundance would do well to calibrate their expectations of others accordingly.
- adolph 3y ago
  Unless the attentiveness is driven by neuroticism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits
- giantg2 3y ago
  Do you have some data on that? My experience is that conscientious people get rewarded with misery.
giantg2 3y ago
"Team members with higher conscientiousness tend to get lumped with an outsized share of undesirable, low impact busywork because others won't do it." I agree. I get shit on at work and at home.

stevezsa8 3y ago

I can relate to this. I'm one of those people who usually had a little too much work to do, but still felt bad when no one else volunteers for a task. Often I'll offer to take it. I'd end up enjoying work less & less and got a bit disgruntled until I was back to my base-line of work. I definitely see it as a weakness in me, but also in my manager who let it happen. As I got older, I started to work at around 90% capacity and grab a tea or chat with a colleague or do some admin for the remainder. This enabled me to jump on to urgent requests and even make extra efforts like physically walking over to discuss the matter. This also enabled me to look out for junior colleagues who seemed a bit stressed.

jkhdigital 3y ago

Exactly. Conscientiousness is a personality trait and those who are lucky enough (yes it is highly correlated with positive life outcomes) to have it in abundance would do well to calibrate their expectations of others accordingly.

adolph 3y ago
Unless the attentiveness is driven by neuroticism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits
giantg2 3y ago
Do you have some data on that? My experience is that conscientious people get rewarded with misery.

giantg2 3y ago

"Team members with higher conscientiousness tend to get lumped with an outsized share of undesirable, low impact busywork because others won't do it." I agree. I get shit on at work and at home.