Just Being Transparent..

Soo- a lot of the posts I’ve encountered often “boss-bash”. AAnd believe me- some of them are so relatable, that I sometimes think that I wrote them. However, in this post I am going to “fess up” about who I used to be. I was a bad employee. I made it harder for those above me by doing things like: • Assuming that I had all the information to arrive at a different conclusion about a matter • Aggressively providing feedback in the form of questions/statements • Intentionally delaying tasks progress due to no desire to complete them • Not reading/following the instructions provided Boy oh boy.. the list could be longer. After soul searching, I’ve written down 8 tasks that helped me take control and stay in control – OF ME! • Read documents thoroughly: In a highly digital world, it’s easy to skim or overlook key information. Just take time and read it • Ask questions for clarity: Phrasing is important. I had to make sure I was questioning for clarity instead of challenging authority • Confirm understanding of the task BEFORE completion: I don’t think anyone likes to do work over… and over. Draft work wouldn’t apply but save time and frustration by doing this step. This includes format, submission protocols, due dates and whom to include • Follow the instructions provided: Creativity was paused but not suppressed. Once trust was earned, I was given free range to get things done (my way) • Do not delay in getting clarification: If you are unsure, just ask-even if it is a task you’ve done before but especially if it is a task you have never done before • Let the manager or supervisor make the task related decisions: In my experience, this often shows up when multiple contributors are involved. Sometimes, we don’t like the tasks and simply DO NOT WANT TO DO THEM. Be willing to be flexible-perhaps you are better equipped to handle certain tasks • Don’t take it personal: Often times, managers/supervisors just want a task done correctly. Task completion is the goal. It is not a personal attack but sometimes revisions and corrections are needed to reach the goal. • Think before you speak: More specifically, will what you say add value in that moment? If not, write it down and go back to it when/if there is a time that it will. I really hope this helps someone!