Task Vs. Trust
by Sueños on 05/26/17
As we begin our career it is common to get rewarded for how quick and effectively we complete our tasks. The more tasks we complete and the quicker we complete them the more we get rewarded. The more we get rewarded the more hours we dedicate to completing tasks. It feels good to get rewarded and recognized. And such the tasks reward cycle begins. It becomes encoded in our professional habits DNA. Then we reach a plateau. Regardless of how many tasks we complete and how quickly we complete them there is no increase in reward. No longer will simply pulling an all nighter get me anywhere. It is expected! You have reached the limits of the tasks reward strategy. Sometimes we internalize this and believe they don’t appreciate us. We ask,” don’t they realize how hard I work?”
Above a certain level reward comes from trust. It is a rather simple rational. If I am going to reward you with more, it be capital or responsibility I must trust you in direct proportion to the more. Early in our careers we engage in very few trust activities. It is simply about getting the tasks completed. The ratio is probably something like 90% tasks /10% trust. As you advance in your career the trust percentage increases in proportion to your scope of responsibility. Which means if you expect to get rewarded it will be for more trust activities than task activities. You have maximized how far doing task well and can take you. Remember Tasks activities maintain our career. Trust activities promote our career.
What are trust activities you may ask? Well let me tell you what they are not. They are not brown nosing! They are informing. Trust activities are activities which garner confidence that you can contribute far beyond your current capacity. Look at your daily routine from the time you arrive in the office, check e-mails, review dashboard, weekly numbers, conference calls, etc., and ask yourself are these tasks or trust. What is your Task to Trust ratio and compare against what is the Task to Trust ratio of the opportunity you are looking for.
Task or Trust you decide!
