Do your work and the next person’s work

This is probably the most shared advice I give my team.

One time we needed to create a new product.

Usually you talk to the sales person. The sales person talks to the manager. The manager talks to the factory.

I skipped it and went to the factory floor.

I sat with the people who actually make the thing.

And they explained why the product had to be built the way it was.

Then we worked out a few changes together to get what we wanted.

Nobody asked me to do that. It was “not my job” at the time.

I’ve learned that if you want to deliver meaningful results, you have to go one or two steps beyond your usual sphere of responsibility.

This is for most situations, not all.

Most people are well intentioned but work in work-to-rule mode. They do the job exactly as it was written down for them. Not one step more.

So if you are waiting for a quote, you have to follow up.

If someone says it’s not possible, you are the one that has to question the reasons why it’s not possible, and find a way to make it work.

If something is not delivered to spec, you can’t simply accept it and push responsibility down the chain.

If you want to be great, the chain is your responsibility.

“I’m not paid for that.”

That’s fine, it’s a valid reason, but then don’t expect to be compensated when promotions come around and you are not even considered.

Having the work ethic of working 2-3 steps removed from your scope of work to guarantee that results are generated is the biggest green flag when I look for A players.

Nobody gets paid for those 2 extra steps.

That is exactly why they are worth taking.

🤙
Jorge