Seven Simple ways you can get better at your job.

1. Show up on time 

• When you show up on time, you begin to cultivate a reputation of being dependable
• If you are regularly late, people will filter what you say through their perception of you. 
• This usually frustrates people. The good news, however, is that you can easily avoid this problem all together by showing up on time.
• Choose to grow in your discipline. 
  • Set alerts on your computer, phone, watch, shoes, whatever has notifications on it. 
  • Don’t book back to back meetings if you struggle with being on time. Leave padding between meetings.
  • Communicate if you are going to be late.
  • A proactive “sorry, I’m running late” lessens the frustration.

2. Be prepared

• Come to meetings having done work
• Stay focused on the agenda
• Understand the counter arguments and be prepared to address them
• Don’t make up answers. If you don’t know, say that you will find the answer and do it ASAP.
• Think about what those listening care about. What information do they need to know in order to make a good decision? 
  • Some care about budget. Some theology. Some data. 
  • Don’t judge what they want to know, provide answers. 

3. Be a multilayered thinker

• Sweat the details when you are presenting
• Anticipate the next question, and have an answer for it
• Tie what is happening to the objective 
  • What are you trying to accomplish, and how does it help move the mission forward? 

4. Put in more effort 

• Try three things before asking for help
• Try to find the answer on your own
• Pay attention to what you tried before 
  • Projects seem to take way more or way less time than we think they should. Don’t lose your due diligence just because this project is taking longer. 

5. Ask clarifying questions

• If you don’t understand something, ask for clarification
• There is nothing shameful about needing more clarification 
  • Projects I’ve been on that lack clarity usually lack success as well 

6. Stop giving up

• Don’t stop with your assessment of a “no”
• Share what brought you to that conclusion, and let others speak into it
• The hurdles you see might not be as big as you think
• The project might be more important than you realize

7. Respect the time of others.

• Before you walk into a meeting or a conversation, have a clear plan of attack. Seek the information you need, and be ready to move on. 
  • Consider the time you are taking from others. Don’t demand more time than you need. Free them up to continue to pursue the ministry they have been called to. 

Bottom line:

More often than not, the difference between success and failure is found in our willingness to work hard at the little things.