Work ON your position

Previously, I wrote about Michael Gerber's advice, in his book The E-Myth:

"Don't just work IN your position, work ON your position."

In other words, don't just do your job as described by HR. Restructure your job so that you can produce MORE of what you are supposed to produce. Of course, the best way to do that is to focus on your special talent or your special skill set.

Why is this "job restructuring" necessary? Because when management and HR created this job and formalized it, they did not have YOU in mind. In fact, they didn't even know you existed until you applied for the job.

So basically, the job was NOT designed to leverage YOUR special talent or your strengths or your special skill set.

Of course, realistically speaking, not all jobs can be restructured. For instance, if you work for a large organization, you probably have less leeway in "redesigning" your job. If you work for a small company, there may be more flexibility.

But it all depends on the relationship you have with your boss. He/she is your support person who will use all organizational resources to help you to: 1. do a better job 2. advance in your career.

Peter Drucker actually wrote about "boss management." He stressed the importance of treating your boss as a career ally, and to put all your cards on the table to ensure frank and honest discussions with your boss.