This is another example of The Best Advice from Top Executives and CEO’s. Authors William Doyle and William Perkins call this:
The Secret of Opportunistic Masochism
In their wisdom-laden book, Smash the Pyramid—100 Career Secrets from America’s Fastest-Rising Executives, they share the advice of a successful 37-year-old Senior Vice President of a Financial institution:
Finding opportunity often is finding something that looks tough to do, and taking it on when other people aren’t that interested in taking it on.
So…Why is that a good idea? What about the possibility of failing with a tough job???
The executive explains the advantage:
Don’t be afraid of a “crummy assignment.” The worst that will happen is that you’ll fail, and that might be understood if it were truly crummy. Whereas if you make it work, or you at least impress people on the way, that’s a big win, isn’t it? …Don’t automatically reject a “lousy assignment.” It could be a career maker.
Up Close and Personal
In one of my organizational roles, I found myself participating in a discussion in an executive team meeting, where the conversation centered around a strategic initiative that everyone agreed was necessary, but no one wanted to take on. (Who really wants more work to do, right?) As I looked around the group, I realized that my team and I were actually ideally positioned to handle the initiative with success. Eventually the meeting ended, but with no one stepping forward—including myself.
To be honest, I was like every other person in the room. I had plenty on my plate, and wasn’t anxious to take on more work. But I also knew it was only a matter of time before the CEO figured it out and would come to me with the assignment. I decided to head him off before he came to me, and make myself the heroic volunteer instead of a coerced complainer. Later in the afternoon, I went to his office and said, “Boss, I think my team and I are positioned to be able to take this on and do a good job for the organization. We’ll do it.” He gave me a wide grin; shook my hand; and (imitating that famous beer commercial) said, “I LOVE YOU, MAN!”
My reply was straightforward: “But Boss…I don’t have any budget for this in my department.” He didn’t hesitate: “Whatever you need…just let me know!”
Now…I ask YOU: How tough and dirty was this job once I had the money to outsource the toughest and dirtiest part of it??? Yeah…it was a great success; I was the hero; and there were no complaints from any of the other executives. (They were smart enough to know that if they complained, they would be likely to be given the NEXT tough and dirty assignment!)
Author and executive coach Cynthia Shapiro explains the value of taking on what she calls a “hot potato” assignment, especially as a volunteer. In her book, Corporate Confidential, she reminds her readers:
One of the little-known secrets to job security is taking the tasks and projects no else wants. …If you take on a task no one wants, and do it well, no one in the company will risk removing you for fear they will have to pick up the hot potato.
Authors William Doyle and William Perkins describe this kind of wisdom with the expression:
Counterintuitive Ambition
One of their contributors—a 29-year-old Senior Vice President—puts it this way:
Give me a challenge. Give me a way to justify my existence. Give me a way to let them know three months down the road that I…matter. I count. I stand out, I’m making an impact. If I’m working on a business that’s automatically growing 15 percent a year and everyone is getting along just wonderfully, what the **** do they need me for?
Shapiro points out the additional advantage to volunteering for tough assignments:
Most employees hate to volunteer for additional work because they’re already doing so much. But what a company won’t tell you is that it looks at volunteering as a sign that an employee has grown beyond her current position and might be ready to be promoted.
Management consultant Debra Benton puts all of this under the broad category of “Courage to Initiate.”
In her excellent book on executive success—Lions Don’t Need to Roar—she advises:
If you want to get to the top, you cannot wait for others to show you the way or make you feel comfortable. You have to initiate. Speak up. Take action. Make the first move.
What happens when you become an Initiator???
1. You immediately stand out from the crowd. The vast majority of people in corporate America are content to “play it safe” by remaining in their comfort zone of skill, responsibility, and relationships. When you take initiative—especially to take on new or challenging assignments—you show higher-ups that you are capable of rising above the “herd.” You also step out from “behind the scenes” and gain valuable visibility in the organization!
2. You will very likely find the help you need to succeed. Most people admire the person who is willing to step forward and lead the charge! Most people also want to be associated with a person like that, and the success that kind of leader often produces.
3. You are likely to gain more opportunities for success. The visibility you gain with higher-ups makes it easier for them to think about giving you more responsibility in the future. It’s a simple, but powerful formula:
Visibility + Success = Opportunity = More Success
Here’s another way of seeing this: The more you succeed, the better your reputation; the better your résumé; and the better your chances of attracting high-quality people to your team! (Everyone wants to be associated with a winner—that’s just human nature!)
4. You will develop a level of competence and self-confidence that will serve you well in the future. Leaders of every kind of organization have a keen appreciation for people who are proven problem-solvers and obstacle “overcomers.” The only way to develop that kind of capacity is through difficult and challenging experience.
One successful executive puts it this way:
It’s only the person who’s been through the tough times and the street fights and all of the tough things that companies are being asked to do today, who can respond to a tough competitive situation or a market slowdown.
If you are looking for more great advice that will help you lower your learning curve and put you on the fast track to success—stay tuned to more great ideas coming your way in future editions!
Until next time… Yours for better leaders and better organizations,
Dr. Jim Dyke – “The Boss Doctor” ™ helping you to BE a better boss and to HAVE a better boss!
