What's the Actual Job? — Quarter Mile
Here is a real conversation I once had. It’s a bit ridiculous but I used to be a bit more ridiculous so just bear with me. Me: “What do you think your job is?” Them (a senior manager at the company): “My job is to empower my team to get results.” Me: “I don’t think so. I think your job is to get results. If and how you choose to empower your team, well, that’s up to you. But it’s not really relevant to what your job is.” Before you get upset with me and my delivery and think that I’m no fun at parties, realize that this was (a) years ago and (b) this person and I didn’t end up working together for long. You should also know this person was ineffective at their job. Actually. And it’s not because they weren’t smart. Or hard-working. Or anything like that. I think it’s because they literally didn’t know what their job was. — This sounds a bit ridiculous because it is. How do you not know what your job is? You (or at least this manager) are getting paid 6 figures? Shouldn’t you at least k