I Am Busy Syndrome

It's been observed that in the Indian corporate landscape,

everyone seems to be busy, from senior managers to young executives. While it's understandable that there are specific times—such as the end of a quarter, the fiscal year, or during review meetings—when numerous assignments need to be completed quickly, claiming that this busyness is a daily affair is a bit of a stretch. Typically, the pressure of work follows a sinusoidal curve, with periods of ups and downs for most people.

When trying to reach someone in the office, here are some common remarks you might encounter:

a) "I am busy; I will call you later."  

b) "I am busy attending a meeting. Once it’s over, I will get back to you."  

c) "I am busy working on a report that needs to be submitted today. I’ll call you tomorrow in the first half."  

d) "Did you send me an email? Oh, I was busy and didn’t get a chance to check it. I will respond in some time."  

And the list goes on.

Assuming these responses are honest, the amusing part is what happens after the initial call or email. In most cases, you do not expect to receive a call back or a reply to an email within a reasonable timeframe, unless you are seeking information as a senior in the organizational hierarchy. Fear works, so it seems. As a consequence, multiple follow-ups often become necessary. Although for some it is a deliberate practice to avoid responding unless several reminders are sent yet there are a few who get annoyed instead. So, what do you? Adopt pressure tactics. Start CC-ing the incumbents Manager, Skip Manager and who not. Lo and behold, it works on most of the occasions!

One came across situation wherein senior individuals even criticize their junior colleagues for not sending enough reminders to get work done or to secure approvals. What do you have to say on this? Interestingly, all of these occur under the guise of ‘I am busy’.

This raises a fundamental question: what sort of work are so many individuals engaged in on a daily basis for which frequent follow-up emails and phone calls have to be made even for mundane official assignments? On a lighter note, one wonders, one of the most sought-after skills that almost every Indian manager acquires is "follow-up". After all, it’s the ultimate test of patience, resilience, and in some cases, even a pathway to climbing the corporate ladder.