If everything is an emergency, nothing is an emergency. I don't understand why so many managers fail to grasp this.
It's the same with prioritization. I've literally had conversations that go:
Manager: I need you to drop everything and do X right now, it's top priority
Me: Ok, well I'm currently doing Y, which was top priority this morning. Which is more important, X or Y?
Manager: Well, they're both equally important!
Me: OK, sure. I can't work on both, which one would you like me to do first?
Manager: [uncomfortable thinking noises]
Manager: Are you sure you can't do both at once?
Me: Yes
Manager: [Pause] Keep going with Y. I'll see if someone else can do X
sigh
It's the same with prioritization. I've literally had conversations that go:
Manager: I need you to drop everything and do X right now, it's top priority
Me: Ok, well I'm currently doing Y, which was top priority this morning. Which is more important, X or Y?
Manager: Well, they're both equally important!
Me: OK, sure. I can't work on both, which one would you like me to do first?
Manager: [uncomfortable thinking noises]
Manager: Are you sure you can't do both at once?
Me: Yes
Manager: [Pause] Keep going with Y. I'll see if someone else can do X
sigh