What You Say is "Not My Job," May End Up Meaning You No Longer Have One!

A few years ago, I read an interesting article in Forbes magazine that talked about those employees, who refuse to do anything they consider not being part of their own job description.  The well-written and thoughtful piece left such a powerful impression on me that I went searching for it again, over the past weekend. I found it, re-read it and immediately realized that it offers some timeless advice.

The article was appropriately titled "When You Say It's Not My Job, You End Up Ruining Your Career." It was written by Vivian Giang for the September 20, 2012 issue of Forbes.


In her own contribution to Forbes, Giang quotes from another Forbes' contributor , Ericka Anderson. Giang paraphrases what Anderson wrote about, in her own words.  "Eventually, your career goals will diminish and all of your jobs will be just that — jobs".  What she was referring to is that if you do not expand within or to outside the "box" you work in your career will eventually whither and die.  Anderson's direct quote is as follows and offers some terrific advice for everyone:

"The folks who embrace challenge – say yes to taking on new responsibilities, take advantage of chances to improve their skills, volunteer for start-up projects – tend to build more viable careers. They’re seen as focusing on mutual benefit; on wanting to help the company while improving themselves. That’s the kind of employee that companies want to keep and groom for bigger things."  -- Ericka Anderson

There was a time when the expression "It's not my job" was a humorous expression.  Not anymore is it the least bit funny!  Not in the complex and highly competitive employment world of the early twenty-first century! In fact, by refusing to pitch in and help make for a stronger team effort, you are absolutely shortchanging yourself and your future career potential.  Someone else will undoubtedly jump in  -  unselfishly and without complaint - to join the effort and end up becoming better skilled and much more marketable; universally well-liked and appreciated; and much more valuable to the present and or future employers. Those sitting on the sidelines while others step up are generally considered as "prima donnas" and mediocre employees -  often something even worse.

Why jump in to an effort and step outside of your employment and job description "box?"

Seth Godin writes the following for Business Insider;

"The work you’re doing on project X right now is keeping you from pushing through the Dip on project Y. If you fire your worst clients, if you quit your deadest tactics, if you stop working with the people who return the least, then you free up an astounding number of resources. Direct those resources at a Dip worth conquering and your odds of success go way up." - Seth Godin

If you work within a box, you'll just end up being re-cycled along with the other useless cardboard.  If you are not a team player for your employer, you may very well be kicked off the team, entirely. Thrown to the side and discarded.

If you are not smart enough to discover the opportunity the lies outside the box you think you work in, you will never discover the true talents the lie inside you or the value others will eventually pay for it.

Note: My views on topics are my own based on personal experiences and are not reflective of any others.