Capable of Doing versus Paid to Do

Contrary to popular belief, I do not believe that success at work is about doing what you're capable of doing. I believe that it's about doing what only YOU can do - and doing it as best as you possibly can. Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should - especially when other work that only you can do isn't getting done. Consider:

A department manager has a major deliverable due later today. But, instead of working on that, he's sorting the morning mail and distributing it into people's mailboxes over by the copy machine. While he can perfectly justify his actions ("our admin is out sick today") there are any-number of other people who are equally qualified to do this task - and have some time to do it. Yet, he doesn't feel right in asking anyone so he figures he'll just do it himself.

Later that day, as he tries to work on that important presentation, he finds himself continually being interrupted by people wanting his attention. Being unable to concentrate on his assignment - and with the pressure of the deadline looming - he loses his patience and takes it out on an unsuspecting soul who just happened to be "next."

There's more to this story than just a simple case of procrastination-gone-bad. It's about me - so many years ago. Notwithstanding the best of intentions, I forgot that there were certain tasks and responsibilities that were mine and mine alone to do. And because I didn't do them, no one else did, because no one else could.

So the next time you find yourself working on an otherwise routine task, ask yourself, "What is it, that only I can do that isn't getting done right now?" And go do that instead. After all, that's what you're paid for. That's what your job is!

Coaching Question: What routine tasks tend to derail YOU from working on what only you can do? What practices have you put in place to deal more effectively with them?