22. |
Don’t Wait to Be Told What to Do |
One thing that has helped me in my work life more than anything else is my natural tendency to do whatever needs to be done without waiting to be told.
I’m not exactly sure when this trait was instilled in me, but for as long as I can remember, this is how I’ve been. From my teenage years, while working at part-time jobs and attending school, to this day, my natural tendency is to take charge. This trait has served me well throughout my working life.
Too many people in the workplace wait around for someone to tell them what to do next. Leaders, on the other hand, take initiative and, recognizing what needs to be done, take charge and ensure that the work is completed. Leaders do not wait to be told what to do. They act.
I’m suggesting not that you exceed your authority and do what you choose but that, within the scope of your responsibility, you do more than what is expected of you.
Years ago there was a television sitcom called Chico and the Man, starring the late Freddie Prinze. In the show one of the most memorable lines was “It’s not my job, man!” The line, Puerto Rican accent and all, became part of the vernacular at the time and for years afterward. In offices all over, people would repeat it, usually in a whisper, whenever their boss told them to do something.
Unfortunately, it spawned an attitude that prevails to this day. The “It’s not my job” attitude is what keeps people from advancing in their careers. If you want to rise in your organization, take ownership of your job and make as many things as possible part of your area of responsibility. Of course, I’m not suggesting you become obsessed with work. We all require balance in our lives in order to be at our best.
We desperately need leaders, people who behave as if everything is part of their job description and who not only perform their required duties but also look for additional ways to be of more value to their employer. If you lead in this way your efforts will be recognized and rewarded by your superiors. People notice those who consistently exceed what is expected of them. They also notice the slackers.
If you want to be happier, make your work more enjoyable, and rise within your organization, become someone who looks for ways to improve the organization, whether or not it is within the scope of your job description. An added benefit to becoming this type of worker is that you will find your day-to-day work more challenging and enjoyable.
Make a practice of looking around your department and see where you can add value. Become self-motivated and look for ways to improve, even if it’s something as simple as making a pot of coffee instead of waiting for someone else to do it.
I’ve noticed over the years that many high-level executives will do the most menial tasks simply because the tasks need to be done. Leaders do not wait for someone else to do things. They take action. That’s why they’re leaders.
A number of years ago Georgia and I were vacationing in San Francisco, one of our favorite places to visit. We had just finished a wonderful dinner at Ernie’s Restaurant, which was at the time one of the top restaurants in the city. (As a matter of fact, it’s where I proposed to Georgia.) As we were leaving I realized there were no taxis around since the restaurant was not on a main road. Looking around, I noticed a well-dressed man standing near the entrance, reading over the reservation book, so I approached him and asked if he could help us hail a cab. He replied that he’d be happy to help. He went outside and, with a whistle, managed to get us a taxi to take us back to our hotel. When I got in the cab, Georgia was laughing. As it turned out, the man I had asked to hail us a taxi was the owner of one of the finest restaurants in a city famous for great restaurants. She couldn’t believe I had asked him to hail us a cab. My reasoning was simple — he wasn’t doing anything else and we needed a ride. Even though he was the owner, he didn’t hesitate to help a customer, despite the fact that it was clearly not his “job.”