Visualized.Feel.Abundance

Hey Folks,

Lately, I have been hearing a lot of negative feedbacks from friends and ex-colleagues when we met up over a cup of coffee. The usual concerns include:

- Unreasonable Datelines
- Bosses Who Can’t Make Up Their Minds
- Overworked And Underpaid
- Overloaded With Assignments
- Unappreciative Bosses
- Too Much Overtime

When In Doubt, Ask And Clarify. Never Make Your Own Assumption.
This is the single most underutilized tip! I still don’t understand why most employees don’t ask any questions when they are given an assignment? They just accept whatever instructions or assignments that was tasked to them without so much as a “Can I clarify ….?”. Are they afraid of looking stupid for asking the obvious? Probably but I would like to share with you this quote:

“The only stupid question is the one that was never asked!”
- Author unknown.

Most employees make assumptions when in doubt. They assume that their boss knows what he is doing. They assume that certain condition holds true. They assume that whatever they just figured out was what their boss wanted. The least anyone could have done, was to clarify with their boss if their assumptions were true. It’s that simple. If you are not sure how to ask and not look stupid, here is my practical example:

Me: Boss, can I have a moment to clarify with you about project X you passed me this morning?

Boss: Do you need to? I thought my instructions in the file was clear!

Me: Oh, it was but I just want to make sure that I got it right the first time. Wouldn’t want to make your project look bad if I got it wrong.

Boss: OK, go ahead.

Now you get your chance to outline HIS instructions as you think it should be and he will prompt and correct where necessary. It’s a simple technique that will not make him look bad, letting him know you care for his project while not sounding like an idiot. More importantly, you get your questions and assumptions verified. Wasn’t tough right?

Work smart, not hard
Most people I know are hard workers. They work very hard day in and day out. They work hard for each project and each assignment. They work so hard that when there is a real need to work hard, they could not raise to the occasion because they have have totally exhausted all their reserves.

What I suggest is that you should consider to work smart instead of hard. So how do you work smart? Here are my recommendations:

• Work Efficiently - When you are at work, focus on the job and cut back on non-essential activities such as chit chat, coffee breaks, surfing the internet, etc.
• Automate Repetitive Processes - Always be on the look out for task that are repetitive in nature, especially if it is a long and tedious process that repeats daily, weekly or monthly. This type of task are the best candidate for computerization and generally more cost effective to do so. Not to mention that it saves you a lot of manual work!
• Work Within Your Job Scope - I know many of my friends are a helpful bunch but many times they help others at their own expense! I strongly suggest that you focus and complete the task in your own job scope first then help others with your free time and not the other way round.
• Ask For Returning Favors - If you never ask for any returning favors, you WILL be taken for granted and that will attract an unlimited request for favors. By asking for returning favors, you will ensure that only those who are willing to help you back will ask for your help.

Put this recommendations into proper practice and you will find that working is not only manageable but enjoyable too. Overtime and overload will be a thing of the past. Plus, you will start attracting colleagues who work with similar mindset! Now that is a powerful thought.

Work VERY Hard when it matters
There are times when the company really needs you to work hard. Such as during project delivery or implementation, during a company crisis, accounts closing week or end of financial year (if you are in the finance line), etc. It is during these situations that you should volunteer to help out, make yourself visible, draw on your reserve and work your heart out. Why do you want to do that? Well, since it is unavoidable, we might as well make it count and make sure the management know about your contribution.

If you work on a regular basis and the company will take you for granted and treat it as a norm. But if you work smart regularly and put in the extra hard work where it matters, the company will treat you like a prized employee that is willing to sacrifice for the company in times of need. See the difference?

Never Go To Your Boss With Problems Only
Two staff brings the same problem to their boss. The first one explains the problem and ask the boss for a solution. The second one explains the problem and offers 2 or more possible solutions. Which one do you want to be? Better not be the first one because that fellow is known in Boss term as “Complainer”! The second one is a innovator will find himself in middle management sooner then he will realize.

Most bosses love thinking staffs who can see a problem as offers a solution but they chronically hate complainers! Oh, if you can explain the problem, offer 2 or more possible solution, analyze the pros and cons then make a recommendation. You are destined for top management!

There you have it, 4 simple tips for the smart employee that I am sure you want to be or already is. Put them into good practice and your days at work will never be as “hard” again!

Love,
James

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