Do This and Love Your Job

Have you ever seen two baseball players go after the same popup fly—both so intent on catching the ball they run into one another and neither makes the play?

The ballrolls woefully on the field, the players get up scowling, and the crowd cheers with delight (or moans in disbelief).

Either way, when two people try to do the same job, disasters can happen.

Remember this and thrive

Whether you work for a small company, a large company, a government organization or answer only to yourself and your customers—you have a job to do.

But what is that job?

Maybe your primary task is to lead, or to sell. Maybe you drive a truck or design websites. Think about it. What is your position’s primary focus? What is it you do that most contributes to the results you seek to achieve?

Then consider this:

Whatever your assigned (or chosen) task, take care of it to the best of your ability and leave other responsibilities up to those assigned to them.

In other words: Don’t try to “play the whole field.” 

How can I be a team player if I don’t help others?

Here’s the rub: the more you care about the work you are doing, the more you will want to be involved with every aspect of it. That brings up three big problems:

1.      When you try to do someone else’s job, your own responsibilities willgo begging for attention.

2.      Others may think you are trying to take control or are seeking to make a name for yourself. Neither makes for good relationships.

 

3.      Like the two baseball players colliding—when you are focusing on the same ball as someone else on the team, there is likely to be a collision.

You want to do well, and you want your company to succeed. You want to exercise your talents and apply your abilities. That is great. Do that, but remember to keep your attention within your own realm. 

Are there no exceptions to the rule?

But what should you do when you see something that “needs fixed” elsewhere? Simply alert the person in charge of that task to the situation. Then return your attention to the work before you.

I know, if the building is on fireyou shouldn’t leave it up to the maintenance staff to sound an alarm. Certainly there are times when you need to act immediately—whether you are the person assigned to that particular task or not.

Those situations, though, are rare. When you allow yourself to act as if every problem is something needing your personal attention—that no one else can handle things as well as you—you are setting yourself up for stress, trouble with co-workers and a generally unhappy life.

Try it today. Stick to your own assignment. Minding your own business is a strategy that not only feels good, but pays off—for everyone concerned.

A Job is always a Job

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Casey Windsong says focus is the key to progress. If you want to reach the mountain, keep walking in that direction. Casey's focus is on small business and entrepreneurship.