Q: I manage an IT department for a large corporation. My workdays vary from the minimum of 10 to 14 hours. They are tiring, but not exhausting to the point that I can't do anything in the evenings. I set the dates and agenda for our meetings and lead the discussions, but the employees provide the detailed information on the flow and status of projects. We meet when necessary, not according to a preset schedule.

I had a lot going on and forgot about two different meetings I had called, so no meetings took place those days. I arrived late and realized I had forgotten my own meetings. My employees didn't mind and, frankly, were probably relieved they didn't have to take the time out of their day. Then a friend asked me whether there were any repercussions to my being late and missing the meetings I had called. I said no, but I wonder whether there's a perspective I'm missing.

A: Two missing perspectives are from your subordinates and from management above you. It sounds as if your boss gives you free rein over how you run your department, but you may be unaware of others' aspirations to take your job.

Intentionally canceling a meeting you set is far different from walking in late and discovering you just blew off a meeting you had set. Your view is that your employees were probably relieved to not have to meet that day, but as responsible employees, they may have rearranged their schedules to accommodate that meeting time, or they may have come in earlier than they would have because of the meeting. No sensible employee would let you know he or she wants your job, but what better thing to bring to management than the fact that a boss who calls early-morning meetings doesn't show sometimes. Once is excusable; repeating the behavior is notable from management's perspective. You are certainly not going to report yourself to human resources, but you can't predict your employees' behavior.

If one of your subordinates reports the event to HR, HR may not mention it to you at that time. That doesn't mean that your boss won't be notified or that a note won't be placed in your file. It may be just the information that places you on your boss's radar regarding future situations.

Your forgetting your own department meetings may also be passed on to other department heads, and gossip, no matter how trivial you think it is, can carry a lot of unwanted weight in management decisions. Your boss may think the world of you now, but never be so relaxed that you forget there's a line to never cross. The trouble is no one knows where that line is until it is crossed.

Illness Changes Performance; Expectations Remain the Same

Q: I was always a high performer, and my boss came to expect more from me than she did from others because of it. I then had a stream of ill-fated events that affected my health, and I can't perform as I used to. My boss, however, won't change her demands of me. How can I make her realize that these things are not in my control?

A: There's no proof like a doctor's letter explaining your medical situation. A simple medical report is not enough, but a letter explaining your illness and how it can affect you in all the areas of your life will bring a new perspective to your boss. A doctor's explanation won't excuse you from meeting your job's requirements, but it should account for the changes in your "over and above" performance level. If your boss refuses to accept your performing equally to others, you may need a lawyer to intervene on your behalf.

Email your questions to workplace expert Lindsey Novak at lindseynovak@yahoo.com, and follow her on Twitter @I_truly_care. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.