The Cubicle Times

CUBICLE – We’ve been taught to be proactive and independent while growing up, but sometimes there are exceptions when we must, and I mean must, rely on others to do a better job.

Knowing how to perform a certain task does not mean that we have to do it ourselves, because each person’s good at certain things and not others.  When I asked some people for some numbers for a report the other day, I got a reply saying that I could do it myself because I’ve been trained already on this tool.  True, I don’t deny that, but it is your job to provide the numbers, and mine to look at your numbers and make the decisions.  I just don’t think by saying that I know how to do it, then I can just do it myself, because I have other important things that I must work on.

In case you haven’t heard about the term “comparative advantage” -  “the ability of a party (an individual, a firm, or a country) to produce a particular good or service at a lower opportunity cost than another party. It is the ability to produce a product most efficiently given all the other products that could be produced.” I took this from Wikipedia, and I think this best explains what I am trying to say.

Anyway, do watch out for people who do that, and don’t be the hero to take on all tasks because “you know how to do it.”  We should all be better managers of our time and tasks, and furthermore, encourage others to be responsible and excel at what they do, too~ Wouldn’t you agree? :)