Even though it sounds like you did everything right and still got screwed, I don’t think that disproves the “take ownership” advice. A person is still better off taking ownership than avoiding responsibility. While doing so won’t get you promoted to CEO 100% of the time, as painfully illustrated in your example, it still improves a person’s odds (on average) of surviving layoffs or downsizing, and makes the likelihood of their getting recommended for future jobs that much better. For example, you mentioned several accolades above. Much better to come out of a layoff and be able to point to accomplishments like that, versus some shirker who dodged every task. I know that’s little solace, but it does show that you are relatively better off for having done the right thing.

As mentioned throughout the comments here, one needs to keep sharp and not become a carpet. But, on average, a person is better off taking ownership than not.

Thanks for the comment, and good luck to you.

Tim

Sometimes you get shot in the forehead regardless of excellent proven performance, astonishing skill sets and selfless “doing everything for everyone” from completing others’ assignments to help make a deadline or changing the toilet paper roll in the bathroom. I was called daily at home after the layoff for training sessions on procedures, equipment and I finally said that I wanted to be paid as a consultant for the “extras” they had grown to take for granted. This advise about owning and delivering on maximum responsibilities is intuitively obvious, but possibly irrelevant. Before you bring in the Starbucks and Bagels treat for everyone, make sure that there isn’t something pink on your office chair.

I agree one has to be careful using a tactic like this. In my view, it’s all in the delivery. If you use the exit as a threat, and try to extort money out of your employer, then yes, you will set those bridges ablaze.

I don’t agree that if you are to the point of quitting your job, that you should just quit. I disagree because that assumes the person who’s debating quitting is unhappy at their job. There are lots of people who love their job, but are almost forced to leave because of inadequate compensation. If you approach your employer earnestly, and explain your situation and want to stay (assuming you want to stay), a reasonable employer will do what’s necessary to keep you on (assuming you’re valuable). Obviously all bets are off when dealing with an irrational boss, or if you haven’t made yourself valuable.

Thanks for the comment!

Tim

If you are to the point of quiting your current job you should really be quiting, not fishing for leverage. Quiting to get what you want does work in the long run sometimes, but more often than not it doesn’t.

If you need someone to do something, TELL THEM!

That is the purpose of management!

Go the extra mile, but protect yourself.

Thanks for reading and for the comment!

Tim

At some point, others need to take ownership too. You can’t do it all.

Any other practical tips like this?

Thanks a lot for reading and for your perspective.

Tim

Thanks a lot for reading and for the comment!

Become Indispensable – couldn’t have put it better myself :). I suspect you know this, but the longer you live by that principle, the stronger your prospects will be. Period.

http://despair.com/worth.html

And as an old boss said once, “If you’re indespensible, you can’t get promoted.”

2. Review your Job Fact Sheet and Job Description:
~ am I doing anybody elses’ jobs/tasks [even the boss's] which aren’t included on my job fact sheet but should be?
~ -am I doing tasks I shouldn’t be? STOP and let those tasks go back to whom is responsible. You may be setting yourself up in the long-run by “trying to help someone out”
* UPDATE these Documents for review and approval of changes by Mgmnt and Human Resources. [you may find a raise due and even a title change is indicated this way].

3. WRITE a proposal to your Boss about the work from home, telecommute opportunity, raise, title change etc.
Include: Pros and cons if any. a Trial ??
~what is the work you believe can be done off-site?
~ how you will keep in touch with your customers [internal and external],
~ how many days/week or month you would expect to do this,
~ what improvements can be expected by this or will service stay the same and this make no impact etc.etc.etc.
*** at the same time your doing this…get your resume’ updated ASAP.
4. Set an appt with her/him to discuss the proposal Send her a copy of the proposal prior to the meeting for her perusal and meeting preparation.
~ advise your Boss at the proposal meeting, you will take notes and provide her with a copy.
~ maintain your professionalism and be calm throughout the meeting, emotions will bury it before it gets off the ground.
~ document facts not feelings. Time start & end, who is present etc. [this will be a valuable tool later]
~ if there were objections raised and discussed, request a second meeting to provide any clarifications requested, further investigation into any aspects etc.
* Do the same for the second meeting.

5. If your not satisfied with the meetings is there another person up the ladder [your Boss's Boss] with whom you can meet, to discuss your concerns? Do that! Take all your documentations with you.

Finally… are you prepared to leave if you don’t get the final answers you want? Don’t threaten to leave unless your ready to go out the door. [you will NEVER be taken seriously again if you do]

OF NOTE: YOU mention feeling more of something like the office bitch. Are you ?
As a person who was a Manager in Health Care at two hospitals, and at one time with 97 persons ….I would have a very big issue with this change in your demeanor.
It’s easy to complain…but you may need to look inside and as the saying goes… “either sh – - or get off the pot”. The above steps will help you do that.

The best of luck to you! Nothing is worse than being unhappy in your work, and it may just be best for you to cut-your-losses and leave, if there really isn’t anything upwardly mobile to satisfy you. The world is full of adventures…go get one all your own!

As a newly hired manager at a trucking company years ago, I remember getting a call from the absent owner around 11p.m. He yelled and threatened to fire me if one more driver had an accident. I laid in bed and thought, I can’t drive all 200 trucks, what does he expect of me? I woke up the next morning and told myself, I can’t drive every truck, but I am going to do everything in my power to make safety a priority.

I went into the office early and made up some signs about safety, I put them at the fueling station, in the shop and in the driver lounge. I made more signs and placed them in front of my dispatchers. I instructed the dispatchers to talk about safety every time a driver called in. I took ownership of the safety record at that company and I was successful there because of it.

It is important to avoid the temptation to say “that isn’t my job” or “what does he want from me?” What is expected is that you do what you can to achieve the results your boss expects, no excuses, just ownership.

Yes, that’s definitely true, you need to deliver tangible positive results. But that’s true of just about every aspect of your job, right?

Ugh! I’m really sorry to hear about your predicament! OK, so you’ve been stepping up and taking responsibility, pulling more than your share. That’s awesome. First thing I tell people is to keep notes on what your duties are as they grow. Everytime you pick up a task, make a note of it somewhere. These tasks can be easy to forget, and this will help you recall it quickly when talking to your boss or when building your resume.

It’s too bad your boss hasn’t been responsive so far. The risk with the advice in my post today is when the person in charge is short sighted and doesn’t recognize leaders. Start by assessing the manner in which you’ve asked her about perks (have you also asked for a raise?). Have you been firm, stating specifically what you want? It’s easy to ask for these things in a passive way (been there), and that makes it easy for your boss to be dismissive. Be sure you are very firm and very clear in what you want, and be ready to point out all the ways you’ve been going above and beyond. If you think she’s worried you won’t be as productive, address that with her, and then show her three specific reasons that won’t happen. If she still won’t respond, maybe ask her what you CAN do to improve your situation (in addition to everything you’ve been doing).

If you’ve been asking in a very clear and direct way, and she still won’t offer you a raise, perk, or other feedback, tell her you understand, go about your business, and start looking for an exit. Right away. Keep your job, but start shopping. If you are truly taking ownership and putting in a ton of extra effort, and your boss won’t recognize it after all these years, that’s a very clear indicator about your future at the company.

Keep me posted.