When You’re an Employee

“All I want, is to make you look good in your job.”

When you’re an employee in an organization, you might not be able to get to win-win agreements. You won’t be able to negotiate service offerings or sell products to your co-workers or up the hierarchy. But you can help others make progress.

And when you’re a founder, and you have employees, you can help create an atmosphere where others know how to deploy that level of generosity and mission, to help the customers, to help their own colleagues, and even you, make progress.

The customer, which your organization serves, wants to make progress.
A colleague, to which you report on a project, might want to make progress.
The leader might want to make progress too.

Let’s look at each, one by one. In every case, we’re going to look at their personal push for progress. What they hope to attain soon, through their efforts, hoping you could help.

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The customer, who your organization is focused to serve, might want to be seen by purchasing your product. Maybe they want to move into a new, better situation. Get organized, secure a personal win, clear up some debts or honour old commitments. Maybe they looked at the price and that wasn’t the issue. Maybe they looked at the future possibilities at using your product, and that was the hesitation. Maybe they’re hoping to be delighted, reminded of what’s good about their work. In your role, maybe you can help them make that kind of progress.

The colleague to which you report on this project, might secretly want to have a portfolio piece. Maybe they’re hoping that this project will be the one where they’ll be able to shine, deploy their skills. Maybe they’d like to practice new leadership skills, get some practice directing the work of others. Maybe they’re hoping you’ll give them frank feedback. Maybe they’ve had struggled so much in a previous gig, their hope is to make this one work. In your role, maybe you can help them get there.

The leader might be on a push to get a promotion of their own, because it’s time. Or maybe they’re hoping to delegate responsibilities to learn new skills. Or maybe they need to repair their reputation, if only they can get that win. Or they need to hit some numbers, and they can’t get those numbers without everyone being a star at their job. Maybe you can be that star, by doing your part, and helping others do theirs.

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There is this surprising quote that a friend shared with me, showing me the whole point of being employed:

“All I want, is to make you look good in your job.”

It’s surprisingly simple, but we all know it’s not simplistic. Turns out everyone wants that kind of progress in their job.