#1: Why Checking the Boxes Doesn't Add Value at Work
Many people find energy in checking the boxes each day and getting a ton of tasks done on their list. I admit myself that this feels great. However, many don't take a step back to see if all of those boxes they are checking are truly adding value and moving along the higher-value work that would move things forward at a grander scale. This episode is exploring that idea of checking the boxes and how to ensure those tasks are all leveling up to make sure that progress is going in the right direction to our grander goals.
Episode 44 of the The Carvery with Alex Dorr podcast, hosted by Alex Dorr, titled "#1: Why Checking the Boxes Doesn't Add Value at Work" was published on February 16, 2022 and runs 16 minutes.
February 16, 2022 ·16m · The Carvery with Alex Dorr
Summary
Many people find energy in checking the boxes each day and getting a ton of tasks done on their list. I admit myself that this feels great. However, many don't take a step back to see if all of those boxes they are checking are truly adding value and moving along the higher-value work that would move things forward at a grander scale. This episode is exploring that idea of checking the boxes and how to ensure those tasks are all leveling up to make sure that progress is going in the right direction to our grander goals.
Episode Description
Many people find energy in checking the boxes each day and getting a ton of tasks done on their list. I admit myself that this feels great. However, many don't take a step back to see if all of those boxes they are checking are truly adding value and moving along the higher-value work that would move things forward at a grander scale. This episode is exploring that idea of checking the boxes and how to ensure those tasks are all leveling up to make sure that progress is going in the right direction to our grander goals.
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Title: Why checking the boxes doesn't add value
It can be amazing to be surrounded by people that take a list and check off the boxes.
The email you ask them to send, the tasks you ask them to complete, the forms you ask them to fill out or the responses to customers that you need done.
The problem becomes when creating a list of boxes for them to check each day becomes another part of your list. It's always reactive, not proactive.
Simply checking boxes starts to add very little value.
In fact, it may be time to question if it ever does in the modern workplace?
Plenty of team members can send the “check-in” email to the potential sales lead, but if the lead doesn’t get back to them? Oh well, I checked the box and reached out just like you asked me to.
But the goal wasn’t to check the box, it was to make the sale. Or at the very least, ACTUALLY connect with the customer to get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
If you’ve whittled your job down to whether or not you checked the boxes today, I can almost assure you that you’re not adding all that much value.
That’s fine for now I suppose, but long-term? We’ll see.
“Check the box” if you read this, but if you’re hoping to add value? You may want to do some reflection and absorb it.
As always, it’s up to you.
-Alex 🚪
If you are looking for a few quick tips on ensuring:
- You are adding value each and every day at work
- Moving from being a box-checker or someone that simply completes tasks into the next level of your career
- Continuing to evolve your understanding of working beyond ego in the workplace
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