8 Responses

1. joec

   01|May|2007 1

   I’m not in the PR industry, but the points listed apply equally well to a technologist’s career, or really any career. However, I might modify it to be “don’t do *exactly* as you’re told”. Find the wiggle room in an assignment and be creative with it as best you can.

   Another good reason to not do exactly what you’re told is to find out more about how your management *really* thinks and works, as opposed to what they told you in the job interview. How risk-averse are they, how tolerant of dissent, out-of-the-box thinking, or new ideas? If all they want are yes-men, or are defensive about their ideas or insecure in themselves and their ability to govern, you should know that, and decide if that’s the right place for you.

   JoeC

2. (Sassy) Sonya Buyting

   01|May|2007 2

   That is great advice. Here’s my two extra cents based on personal experience that has totally has served me well. Back when I first started as an associate producer in a national daily science TV program, there was one senior producer who intimidated most of the producers. I quickly came to the realization that not only did they hire me to do a certain job, but they hired me for my brain. That’s when I began standing up to my superiors if I truly believed we weren’t taking the right approach to something. Granted, I ALWAYS made sure I did my research first to know I stood on solid ground. A few others just grumbled under their breath. Instead, I was always forthright with my opinions. They valued my opinions – even though at the time I was just a young keener with a degree in science and journalism with very little TV experience in the field. Just by standing up for what I believed in, I gained their respect. And a little respect goes a long way….

3. Justin Kownacki

   01|May|2007 3

   I’d also add: “Don’t NOT do what you’re told and confuse it with being an innovator.”

   An innovator does what he / she is told, with alterations.

   A person who is told to do A and instead consistently does B isn’t innovating or disrupting — that’s called “derailing,” and it’s bad for business.

   (At my gf’s day job, she frequently finds her tasks have been accomplished by people who didn’t want to do their own work, so they did hers instead… meaning hers was done twice, and no one did theirs…)

4. Chris Hambly

   01|May|2007 4

   Like this, thanks for sharing it.

   Just cross posted the link to a google group.

5. Omar Ha-Redeye

   02|May|2007 5

   That’s it. I’m giving my boss hell.

6. Bryan Person, Bryper.com

   02|May|2007 6

   Thanks to all of you for your thoughtful responses.

   Of course I’m not suggesting that you always do the opposite of what you’re told. As Justin points out, that act will wear thin pretty quickly. The idea of adding value to what you’re already expected to do is what’s key.

   Sonya, you’re right to note that having done your research *first* always helps when you’re suggesting an alternate tactic or approach. You can know your stuff in your own brain, but you need to be able to explain yourself when trying to get buy-in.

   Chris, by all means encourage folks from your Google Group to leave comments here and continue this comment thread!

7. Chris Hambly

   02|May|2007 7

   I was in a meeting with a bunch of academics today where the University policy is to use Blackboard, the learning package.

   I took great delight in mentioning that http://boycottblackboard.org is my site, and I went on to expain why. Shocks and suprises, felt great.

8. John Johansen

   07|May|2007 8

   Another reason not to just do what you are told is that it’s very hard to do that right.

   If someone tells you to do a task, they likely have a vision of what the final product will be. Simply trying to fulfill that task, especially in a qualitative environment like PR, is difficult to nail exactly right.

   But, bringing creativity to the task, making the work your own so that it extends beyond the initial request can be a good way to avoid that confrontation. Of course, explaining upon submission to your manager or boss the approach you took, with research or methodology behind your reasoning, will make sure that the difference in the final product from expectations won’t be viewed negatively.
   Or, if they are negative, it won’t be because you failed to do the task ‘right’.

   Learned this lesson the hard way at my first PR job.