TOW#612 — I’ve got no idea how to do it…
There are different types of people in each segment of work or in the delegation of work / activities.
The problem is that when we’re asked to complete a job, we never, or at least very rarely, understand what exactly is being asked of us.
· Notes — to know what is required of you, please take notes while you’re being told what you need to do. If you fail to hear or understand something, either stop them and ask or ask your colleague what the ‘author’ was trying to say.
· Questions — please, if you don’t understand something, feel free to ask — there’s no shame in saying you didn’t understand. The person delegating tasks to you will know how to approach / explain things better to you in future.
· Repetition — having been told what to do, and taken notes, please, if you’re still unsure about what you wrote / understood, ask if you can run over things just to double check that what you jotted down is indeed correct.
Having understood the tasks, and one another, then comes the following:
· Negative expression — it’s happened to me many times that despite everything having been explained and repeated, plus asked if we understand each other, that I see in front of me either a negative look or a strange expression! That could be either because you didn’t understand anything, but you’re pretending, or because you didn’t want to be given that task. Please, either follow the above points or simply don’t make a negative face! There’s a reason why the job was given precisely to you!
· Grumbling — don’t moan and ‘bang your against the wall’, but get to work! Don’t leave it until the last day.
· Plan and programme — plan out how you’ll do what needs to be done, including (if you aren’t 100% sure what’s required of you) clarification about what’s needed, and take it step by step!
· Small steps — start at the beginning and take small steps. Don’t immediately jump to the final aim. By taking small steps, you get acquainted with the work, you’re motivated for the next ones or, if you miss, you’ll be able to correct yourself at the very start.
· Info and resources — once you’ve made your plan, divided into small steps and aimed at completing the task, now it’s time to see what resources you need to help you get the job done.
· Start already — I know too many people who invest a lot of time in all of the above (don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you shouldn’t prepare, but if you’re given a deadline of 4 weeks and spend 3.5 of them planning, then something’s not OK) and then start working too late and run out of time… well, of course there wasn’t enough time! So, start actually completing tasks, and in the meantime you can make adjustments to your plans.
And if, after all of the above, you still have no idea what you need to do, seek help from those more experienced than you (colleagues, the Internet, etc.).
Now, let’s get down to work!
@kalin.babusku
Member of the Team
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