More than Required

Most of us go through the workday doing our assigned tasks. But few of us do more than is required. Employers tell us exactly what is expected of us. We are then evaluated on how well we accomplish these tasks. Depending on where you work, you are evaluated on a six month or annual basis. I suggest asking your supervisor, before your evaluation, how well you are doing and what areas need improvement. There are four reasons why you should do this. First, it lets your supervisor know you are concerned about your work and take your job seriously. Secondly, this gives you an opportunity to improve yourself before the documented performance review. Thirdly, once you improve your performance, you can begin to master all assigned tasks. Fourth, and most importantly, once you master your assigned tasks, you can begin to master other skills.

Let your supervisor know that once you master your assigned tasks, you would like to begin to master other skills. Ask your supervisor what other office skills he/she considers vital to the office. This puts you on the fast track to advancement and a commensurate pay increase.

You should know by now how fond I am of quotes so here’s one to help you master skills: Having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at all costs of tedium and distaste. The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labor is immense.
This quote is attributed to Arnold Bennett. Even if your additional efforts don’t translate into additional dollars, you’ll have an immense increase in self-esteem.

Here’s one of my favorites by Theodore Roosevelt: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

In case you don’t have a keen grasp of the obvious, Teddy Roosevelt is saying try, try, try. If you don’t succeed, you still have the respect of others. More over, you have the respect of your supervisor and he/she will likely give you more assignments which will help you grow as a professional.

If you are self-employed there is plenty of room to grow professionally. As an example, I finished a video editing project for a client and had her review it. She was very satisfied and asked about putting in on DVD. I could have referred her to others but I thought I might as well try to do it. I have made my own DVDs but never for someone else. It needs to look very professional and I’m up to the task to attempt it. The client also needed to have the video close captioned. This is labor intensive so I suggested going elsewhere to have that done. Frankly, I don’t even know if I could have done that. The important thing is, do more than required AND also know your limits so you don’t disappoint someone.

Whether you work for yourself or someone else, it pays to keep current with IT news and trends. Remember, there are three kinds of persons in the world, people like us that make things happen, people who just let things happen, and people that say, “Hey, what happened?” Most people are in the second group. You want to be in the first group. If you’re in the third group, you may as well start looking for another job right now because you WILL be replaced.

Supervisors are always looking for someone who does more than required. Even if your supervisor doesn’t fully appreciate your effort, you can leave that job knowing more than when you first started and that can’t be bad. Now go out there and grow (at least professionally).

About the author

Gene Rodgers Photo Gene Rodgers has been a quadriplegic since age 17. Since then he has earned several college degrees, worked in several states, earned a Switzer Fellowship, and now works as a private contractor.

Do you have a question about employment and disability? Send your question to grodgers@austin.rr.com and put “DLRP JOBS” in the subject line.