Whenever dealing with clients who come to me for career development coaching I make sure that early on in the discussion we cover the number one responsibility of every employee.
The question is usually proffered in this way “So, what do you think your number one job responsibility is? Or “What is the number one responsibility of every employee not matter what their job?” After a few moments of fumbling for the answer, or blank stares and puzzled looks they will usually venture a guess or two such as “customer service”; “do what they hired me to do”; “do my job”. After they make the attempt to answer I will let them off the hook and tell them. “Your number one job, no matter where you are in the company, no matter what your job description is to make the boss look good.”
The responses of my clients at that point are varied but all are telling. They run the gamut from looks of sudden illumination, to wry smiles, to incredulous stares. And then I assure them that indeed their number one priority and their number one job is to make the boss look good. Then I explain.
• You can make the boss look in good in any one of a thousand ways. You do it by doing your job to the best of your ability…every day.
• You do it by coming into work every day, on time, and ready to work.
• You do it by delivering the goods, whatever those goods are (reports, projects, widgets, etc) complete and on time.
• You do it by getting along with all your coworkers (yes, even those you don’t like or maybe even can’t stand) and proving yourself a “team player”.
• You do it by being easy to manage, eager to take on work and always having the bosses back.
There is no magic to it, it’s called being a responsible employee but more and more I see this being lost in the workforce.
Why is making the boss look good an employee’s number one responsibility? Here’s why. When the boss looks good, he/she is a happier boss and a happier boss is a boss who is easier to work with and easier to work for.
Make your boss look good and they will value not only what you do, they will value you as an individual. A boss who values you will be more likely to help promote your interests in an effort to keep you happy and productive and themselves looking good. You may get that extra consideration when it comes time for a promotion or a raise. Or it can work itself out in plum assignments, getting off a few hours early now and then, added flexibility to your schedule, or you may just get to keep your job.
When your boss is made to look successful and you make his/her job easier you become a “valued employee” and stand a greater chance of gaining the success you want and being successful too. It is a symbiotic relationship and everybody wins.