Tough Assignments Aren’t Always As They Appear
Are you working through some tough assignments? Does your boss or your job function ensure that you get critical work with high levels of urgency? What would you describe as this type of work?
Is every day a tough assignment? If so, how or why?
Boredom is a key indicator of performance decline. It is also an indicator of a lapse in safety or a lack of care for the customer. Boredom is one of the leading causes of workplace disengagement.
Tough assignments are typically good motivators. When it is something new, something different, and something that peaks interest.
Even new has challenges. New often means change and in many business sectors the culture has decided that their output has neared perfection. When the ship is going the right direction never deviate the course.
It is often a prescription from Six Sigma training, a rule that should never be broken. The RX says to make adjustments until perfect and then never change.
It doesn’t formally prescribe that, but often, that is what the culture begins to believe is the right move. Never deviate.
Are you clear about what is truly a tough assignment?
Tough Assignments
It may not be the emotional labor. It may not be the change that you disagree with. The toughest assignment may be figuring out what is the work that no one wants to tackle?
If you could make one change, a change that would leapfrog the team to a higher level, increase revenue, and gain more customers what would that be?
What is the work or assignment that will truly make a difference for tomorrow?
The next time you’re about to describe a tough assignment be sure to set aside the daily grind, the emotional labor, or the things you simply dislike. A tough assignment doesn’t get its designation because it bores you.
Tough assignments are the ones that will have the biggest impact.
Which is exactly why you should do more of them.
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
