Today we have a guest editorial from Andy Warren.
This editorial follows up on Are You Easy to Work With with the question: are you one of those people that gets it done at work? As a manager I want people that are easy to work with, but I want people that get it done. What does that mean? Let’s make a list:
- They take ownership of the assignment. They ask the questions and they tell me what they need
- They work around obstacles
- They hold themselves accountable to the deadline
- They raise an alarm as soon as the deadline is in danger
It’s what I want from my plumber, my lawn guy, even my doctor. It’s asking someone to take on work, having them work through the requirements and agree to a timeline, and then getting it done.
Getting it done doesn’t mean working 20 hour days. In very rare cases it might, but it’s really about ownership. As a manager (or homeowner even) I identify work that needs to be done and assign someone to do the work. I want that person to be a true professional and ask the questions that lead us both to a solid understanding of the work and the risks, and then I want them to own it, coming back to me proactively when they need help or guidance.
Getting it done sometimes means being creative. Sometimes it means being persistent. It always means being reliable. Are you one of those people the boss knows will get it done? And if not, why not?
