Do What You Can, Not Your Job
From the Amazing Mind of Jessica Hagy
Your job description is the bare minimum required to do your job. It’s a suggested starting point not a prescriptive action plan.
Seeing that Venn diagram reminded me that I’ve never been more frustrated than when I felt constrained in my ability to make a difference. When I failed it was because I succumbed to the thinking that ‘this is how things are done’ and allowed myself to be defined by my title, job description or the perception of others.
A couple off-the-cuff thoughts on what I was doing differently during the times I was successful:
- Rewrite the rules in your favor. There is something you can do better than most people. Usually it’s what you really enjoy doing. Know what that is and find ways to put more of it into your job.
- Pay attention. Two eyes and ears. One mouth. Use them accordingly. Identify the holes that need filling even when the person needing them filled can’t define the hole.
- Ignore others. Not everyone, of course, but there are people who will defend the status quo. There is always a better way to do something. Don’t stop looking for it when others tell you to.
- Shed the ego. It’s difficult for others to argue when you have the team’s or the company’s best interests at heart. Likewise, when you focus on the positives and what could be you aren’t attacking anyone personally or how they’ve been doing things. The professional rewards are a byproduct of putting the team ahead of yourself…usually.
- Find like-minded people. To me, this is different than finding allies. That turns it into a contentious political game. To me, it’s about finding people who will help strengthen your resolve and help you get things accomplished. Many hands make light work after all. Completed action usually has few detractors. Ideas have a shitload.
These aren’t universal, of course. And there will be work environments in which this is easier to do than others.
But, the bottom line is that to make yourself invaluable you have to do more than check the boxes. Be proactive in defining your role. It certainly makes the game easier to win.
—
For more intelligently funny truisms in diagram, graph and equation form, check out ThisIsIndexed.
No related posts.
This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.
2 Comments
Nice post. For me another is play. Play with people, ideas and tools that are tangentially related to the problem you are trying to contribute against. Play carries the sense of discovery and a loose hold on everything, allowing novel ways and ideas to replace the worn out stuff.
Thanks Skippy. I really like the idea of consciously injecting play into your work. One of the other things it does is help to level the playing field. When our actions aren't bound by our typical work constructs our baggage and hierarchies tend to disappear (or at least become diminished). This is not only a release valve for stresses, but provides people a safer environment in which to make suggestions that may otherwise be considered risky or 'off-the-wall.'