Try to figure things out first.
Regardless of the profession, there is a particular type of employee that all managers highly value- an employee who has the ability to figure things out.
These employees are resourceful, creative and persistent. When they don’t know how to do something, they first try to figure it out for themselves and are usually successful. However, if after doing their initial due diligence, they are not successful, they will assess if it is worth spending additional time to dig deeper or to ask their manager for assistance. Their ability to self-regulate is a huge plus for a manager!
The inclination to try and figure things out comes mostly from individuals who believe that figuring things out is the best way to move forward and those who have traditionally relied on themselves to get things done. However, anyone can get better at the skill of figuring things out, and here’s how:
Start with simpler problems or deliverables- try to complete things that are in your level of authority. If you can knock these out solo, you will build your confidence to work up to more complex assignments.
Ditch your perfectionist tendencies- you have to give yourself the latitude to go for it and be okay knowing that you might make a mistake. By allowing yourself to figure things out, you will learn and develop a better feel of what you can tackle on your own and when you’re in over your head.
Be resourceful- aside from the obvious internet searches, many companies have intranets, FAQs, knowledge databases, tutorials, past work samples, reports and other documents that may give you the information you need to solve your problem or put together your deliverable. Always, always, always explore these options before asking your manager for assistance.
Set a time limit- give yourself a reasonable amount of time to figure it out for yourself, and if you reach that time limit and aren’t well on your way to solving the problem, throw in the towel and ask your manager for help. There comes a point of diminishing returns…you still need to get your assignment completed on time!
Take notes or create procedures- There is nothing worse than figuring out how to do something, doing it and then completely forgetting the next time the same thing is asked of you. Make sure to take good notes or create procedures for yourself, so you know how to repeat what you were able to figure out.
So, the next time you have the urge to call, text or message your boss for help, ask yourself if it is truly something you can’t figure out on your own. If it isn’t, ask away, but if you do have the tools to tackle it on your own, give it a try. Believe me, your proactiveness will be noticed, and when you make your manager’s life easier, you will be rewarded.