Fulfill Your Boss’ Expectations

Fulfill Your Boss’ Expectations
By John Peabody


The ability to wade through mountains of information and meet tight deadlines is considered a top priority in the workplace. Having an unmistakable and unambiguous understanding of your duties and responsibilities in the workplace is indispensable in carrying out these tasks. This information traditionally comes in the shape of a formalized job description, which is usually provided by your boss when you’re hired. If you don’t have one, be sure to ask your boss for one. It will help you to understand what is expected of you and it’ll give you a hint at what's the most efficient way to go about completing your daily assignments.

So, you have your job description in hand and you’ve discovered that it’s left up to you to complete your work in a timely and professional manner. But, what strategies can you employ to adequately fulfill your boss’ expectations without pulling a string of all-nighters or sacrificing your weekends?

Check out these six tips on how to meet your boss’ expectations and make your workload a little more manageable.

1- Set reasonable goals

It’s perhaps natural to initially feel daunted and overwhelmed at the prospect of completing a large and complicated piece of work. Yet, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” as the saying goes, and nor should you expect to finish a multi-tier project in one eight-hour workday. To that end, once you are clear on exactly what you must do, break the work into smaller, more manageable units. Set a time frame for completing these smaller portions and stick tightly to that schedule. Also, it’s recommended that you tackle the most complex or difficult tasks first, which will save you valuable time in the long run. By setting reasonable goals and meeting these self-imposed deadlines, you will build confidence in your abilities to complete the project on time and without sloppy or rushed results. The tortoise had it right all along -- slow and steady wins the race.

2- Seek clarification immediately

Confusion minus edification, almost always equals procrastination. Some clear direction can go a long way in helping you accomplish your goals and meeting your boss’ expectations. Whether driving in your car, putting together a cabinet or trying to complete a report, it always helps to know where you’re going and how to arrive at the desired destination. If you find yourself puzzled or unclear on how to get started or continue with a given task, do not be reticent to ask for some explanation. In many instances, one or two simple follow-up questions will suffice to get you back on track. Do not feel as if seeking clarification signals ineptitude or professional incompetence on your behalf. On the contrary, asking questions will let your boss know that you are on the same page and diligently working toward meeting your deadline.

3- Look to your colleagues

In the off chance that you find yourself in a real jam, try petitioning the assistance or advice of a colleague before heading directly to your boss. Make it clear and apparent from the outset that you are neither asking nor expecting your coworker to do the work for you. A polite and informal request for help should do the trick. Or simply mention in passing that you are experiencing trouble with a certain aspect of an assignment. In all likelihood, your colleague has probably encountered similar problems and difficulties in the past, and should not find it onerous or exhausting to offer a little friendly advice and guidance. Nevertheless, try not to get in the habit of immediately seeking out the assistance of your colleagues when hitting a snag. Resorting too quickly to this measure has the potential to become annoying and damaging to your overall efficiency.

You’ll impress your boss if you say “no” every now and then.

4- Prepare for obstacles

You don’t need to have a Magic 8-Ball sitting on your desk to tell you that there are going to be a few bumps in the progress road. Inevitably, obstacles small and large are going to rear their ugly heads -- your hard drive will crash, you’ll get the flu or your in-laws will decide to pop in for a visit at the worst possible moment. Of course, it’s not exceedingly useful to recognize that you’re going to encounter problems. What is important, however, is your ability to predict and prepare in advance to deal effectively with such problems. For instance, if you’re juggling two large projects at once, time- and resource-management conflicts are bound to arise. Should you work on them in tandem or complete the most difficult first before embarking on the completion of the other? Or vice-versa? Use such hypothetical questions and rely on past experiences to develop an overall work strategy that can help you manage both present and future project.

5- Learn to say “no” when necessary

New and entry-level employees may at first feel pressured (or even obligated) to tackle and complete every single chore and assignment that lands on their desk. And the quicker one rushes to get all these things done, the faster the work seems to pile up. While it’s laudable to want to demonstrate professional acumen and solid work ethic by “taking things as they come,” this philosophy can swiftly make daily and weekly workloads almost unmanageable. Generally, people are prone to forget the fact that they have the capacity to refuse to take on a certain project or responsibility. Perhaps Mrs. Reagan had something when she said: “Just say NO!” In brief, it is unwise -- not to mention unprofessional -- to agree to handle extra assignments if it is doubtful that they will be completed thoroughly and delivered on time. Mind your manners; don’t bite off more than you can chew.

6- Only promise what you can deliver

Believe it or not, your employer most likely hired you on the basis of the skills and work experience that were outlined on your resume. So don’t be taken aback if your boss actually expects you to be able to do what you stated you were able to do. Let the quality of your work speak for itself. Building credibility and rapport with your employer is simply a matter of fulfilling the demands imposed by the position you occupy. Yet, as the old saying goes: there’s nothing wrong with under-promising if you can over-deliver.
make a lasting impression

The to-do List never seems to end, the in box overflows, the day is too short, and your time is always at a premium. This typically results in feeling stressed, anxious, flustered, and downright overwhelmed. But with a little insight and practical thinking, living up to your employer’s demands and expectations shouldn’t be detrimental to your sanity or well-being. If you can do a job, there’s little excuse for not doing it well.