Why You Should Never Just Do What Your Boss Says
The Opportunity to Deliver More Value
Employees completing their responsibilities and tasks as directed should be appreciated. An expectation for individuals to overdeliver on every task will lead to disengagement and burnout. However, what sets high achievers apart is how they approach every task with the mindset of 'How do I make this better?' Whether it's a small task or a major initiative, there's almost always room for improvement. A faster process, a smoother handoff, a happier client, or a stronger end-product all deliver more value. Analyze your current responsibilities and think about how you can improve the speed or quality of your work. When your manager requests a task, look for opportunities to go a step further and deliver more than what is being asked.
It's A Chance To Shape Tasks Around Your Strengths
Not every task at work will align perfectly with your passions, chasing 100% employee happiness is not reality. While some employees may begrudgingly check the box and move on, high performers look for ways to turn routine assignments into strategic opportunities. With a bit of creativity, you can expand the scope of a task to better align with your strengths and career goals. A reporting assignment might open the door to data analysis skills. Leading a meeting could become a chance to strengthen your communication capabilities and grow your network. Managing a new workstream might allow you to build entrepreneurial experience. When you proactively shape your work to match your current capabilities and desired development areas, it will build new expertise and foster a stronger career.
Good Employees Follow, Great Ones Think Critically
Just because a directive comes from the top does not mean it is the only path forward. While leaders may focus on the big-picture viewpoint, individual employees may have more insight into the day-to-day work or department dynamics. Speaking up and offering alternative paths forward shows you care about the success of the team, your manager, and the business.
Employees who always say 'yes' without questioning the process can unintentionally reinforce inefficiencies or flawed systems. Progress comes from thoughtful input, not silent compliance. Strong leaders welcome feedback, providing the goals and objectives while letting employees have autonomy. They trust employees to figure out the best path from A to Z, while offering guidance along the way.
High performers do not just do what's asked of them. They find ways to add value, align tasks with their strengths, and think critically about processes. By looking for opportunities to improve, creatively expanding responsibilities, and offering thoughtful feedback, you not only deliver more value at work, but also curate your own career focused on autonomy.
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