Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of roles within my worlds of work!  For example, I have worked as a:

• Youth Advisor
• Asphalt Truck Driver
• Farmhand
• Bowling Machine Repairman
• Insurance Inspector
• Sports Store Salesperson
• Program Planner
• Director
• Consultant
• Adjunct Faculty
• Adult Program Placement Worker
• Board Member

In almost every situation a job description was available to help one:  “Know Your Role?”  However in most workplaces, I will admit that I was able to quietly model my role somewhat in a way that not only benefitted the employer…but also allowed me to customize my job role and thereby heighten my product/services contributions.  And although there are other concepts I would like to cover and explain their positive learning lesson values…but not this week.

For this week’s TRIPLE III TIME message I want to share my “Know Your Role?” thoughts that come from both my employee and employer experiences.  Here are my Serious 6!

First, DON’T assume or attempt to read your supervisor’s mind about your role.  You will be incorrect most of the time…so just ask!  Second, know your limitations.  Don’t make performance role promises you can’t keep.  Starting a lot of projects is cool…but not finishing them is a problem.  Third, be a continuous “job student”.  The more you know about what you are doing…the better you will do it.  Fourth, go ahead and “over-do” role tasks for qualities sake.  If it means more money sometimes…AOK…but don’t excel only for the money.  Fifth, don’t change how things are done just because they are not done how you think they should be.  Listen more and create a “I can show you” role situation.  Finally, learn to remember those things that could be done better…especially in the treatment of workers role.  Why…so when YOU become boss and “Know Your Role?”…YOU will do things better.