Perception and Performance

This is an interesting facet of your life and mine.  Perception is what a people think about your performance.  Performance is what you actually accomplish in life.  If you are evaluated by humans only, perception is everything.  If you are evaluated by sensors or calculated metrics, performance is everything.  Most of us are somewhere in between.  Performance matters, but in the end what you take home is evaluated by a human who uses perception.

I have been troubled many times in my career by watching low performers take home big checks, and then move to another organization just before it would have been obvious they were selling a tonic that didn't work.  Then, as if by script, someone with good performance steps in and saves the day; no reward is requested or given.  It seemed so wrong each time, but ten years later, following everyone's career, there is actually no disparity; the under-performers eventually spent a long period of time looking for a job and the over-performers were (in time) rewarded for his or her efforts either with stability, freedom, or money.

So, you work second shift part time as a janitor in an organization; your job description reads something like "I keep the office space clean so the company can make money without regard to taking out the trash or cleaning the floor."  So, employees are in the meeting room on an international conference call late in the night.  It's time to vacuum the conference room.  Is your job to clean the floor, interrupting the call, or is your job to quietly go in and ask the executives if they need anything; fresh coffee, or a run to the local restaurant to get something to eat; obviously, this is a circumstance that is out of the ordinary.  It's an opportunity to show them you understand the difference between you position and mission.  Your mission is to help the company be successful (as is everyone's). I hope you made the right decision and supported your coworkers, because it opened the door to the full time job as the receptionist when they need one, which opened the door to the next level when it is available.

Opportunities for greatness usually come in the 15 minutes you were early for work, or the hour you donated to the company while you were reading something to educate yourself after work.