Just Do Your Job! Do not Waste My Time!
In today’s competitive marketplace, employers differ on what the key is to their success. While there may be several strategies in advertising, organization, and risk management, one thing all agree on is the need for a highly skilled workforce. Some believe that simply hiring those with highest skill level, regardless of the character flaws and baggage that they might bring is it. Some will accept less skill for a younger, more energetic, and easily manipulated workforce.
During hiring processes, skill and ability can be assessed. Interviews can bring out some of an applicant’s character. But one thing that cannot be discovered is a person’s work ethic. Will their walk match what they did on the test, and the answers given to standard questions? Probationary periods can prove out what testing, and interviews fell short in revealing. But after a ninety-day period, who do you have on day ninety-one? Many supervisors are stunned when they find out that their new golden child is a snake in the grass.
In some organizations there is a disconnect between those that hire, and those that manage. While the HR manager thinks flashy and confident, a supervisor can be saddled with eye service and arrogance. I often refer to a statement of a former supervisor.
“Give me an average welder, who will show up on time, do what he is told, and not cause a bunch of drama, over a hot shot any day!”
Before I began to author this article, I asked a couple of supervisors, “What is the one thing you desire most from your subordinates?” Both answered, “Just do their job.” Their answers along with the words of my former supervisor reveal that what brings success is an employee that will walk in integrity and work with enthusiasm. That can be trusted to do their best even when the eye of supervision is not on them. What leadership is asking for is a faithful and diligent employee!
To me nothing shows faithfulness better than being on time. Being there when you said you would, and ready or prepared. When I first started out in my trade, I worked with a man that every day would stand at the time clock, and when the horn sounded, he would punch his timecard. I thought it was funny, and an action that signaled that he was not going to give the company a minute more of his time than they were paying him for. But over time I learned that it was an act of self-discipline. When the horn sounded it was time to go to work.
Diligence is a characteristic of honor. A diligent employee is like a fire and forget missile, or power steering on a car. Old Mister Webster may have a better definition, but I like, “Eagerness married to wisdom housed in the heart of a servant.” Supervisors know that they have an employee that will stay careful and persistent in his assignment. An example I often refer to is in the book of Ezra when the Hebrews had returned from Babylon and began to rebuild the temple. It says that their work was with great care and succeeding. (Ezra 5:8)
All of us have had influences that have affected our work ethic. In my life it came from several people and situations. The first was from my grandfather who taught me that the only way to get something done was to get it started. He was a farmer, and he understood the importance of getting started. (Proverbs 20:4, Ecclesiastes 11:4,6) Sometimes we cannot wait on the perfect time. There will often be times when the timing, resources, and abilities may be lacking but I can find a way to start.
In the military I learned that preparation is important, and it is never a waste of time. Paying attention to detail will help to cut mistakes. That a pause is better than a backward step. All things that helped me later in my secular and ministry service. But my greatest lessons came from the Lord in ministry training and through my father in the faith. Over the years rarely have many days go by that I do not hear his words in my heart, “Do it now, do it well!” He was always encouraging, in that whether secular or ministry, we should do things eagerly and in excellence. There are negative influences that can come to you. We must guard our hearts and not let them in. Unfortunately, these can come from bosses that fail in their responsibility to lead. Treating their employees like machines instead of people. This brings us to the other side of the labor/management relationship. Or as the late Paul Harvey would say, “The rest of the story.”
Do not waste my time!
Everyone that has served in the military understands “Hurry up and wait.” I have found that this is not just a military thing but is prevalent in our businesses, ministries, and governments as well. Having people wait for you is a form of disrespect that comes from pride. You do not value other people’s time as important as your own. Leaders should never draw down the blank check given by a loyal employee to the point of insufficiency. Once the morale of your team is spent, only harm will come.
To require your people to just do their jobs, to stay busy, requires that your job has already taken place. To borrow part of Home Depot’s slogan on getting more done, how your doers get more done relates directly to your planning and preparing.
Planning, this is a key aspect that separates the professional from the jackleg. Successful organizations function with and place value on sound planning. Following a predetermined plan imparts confidence in the people involved in a project. It ensures that the outcome will match what the customer wanted. It will also hold everyone involved to standards of quality that protect an organization’s reputation. The jackleg or unsuccessful, they tend to do things along the line of…whatever.
Being prepared is critical in not only completing tasks, but also in keeping your people focused and engaged. Having to stop work, change directions, or start over is frustrating. As a leader, you can sometimes be put in situations by senior leaders who will expect you to give directions and require deadlines to be met, without giving you what you need before you start. Leaders can never excuse their responsibility, to a burden on their people.
Finally, when leaders and laborers are in unity toward their organization’s goals, it produces a healthy (Mental, Physical, Emotional) team. The fruit of their work will bring success!