The Problem With Being Good.

The problem with being good at your job that you identify and alert others to an issue long before it becomes - an issue.

Your boss is more likely to listen to you, look at the evidence, think of her list of priorities, and decide yours isn’t one of them.

Besides, the risk of addressing a potential issue is far outweighed by the glory of reacting to a crisis. People are far more forgiving of someone who is imperfect in an emergency than those who want resources to prevent one.

Big picture, strategic thinking bosses are rare. Most bosses reach their position by doing tactical jobs well. The day-to-day. Nobody teaches them the different skills, mindset, and steely nerve needed to think months, let alone years into the future. Plus, long term planning lacks the payoffs that come from the day-to-day, and the gratitude of another crisis ‘solved’.

Which may explain why we end up with bosses who prefer to shake hands and kiss babies, preside over meetings, and be hero leader when their failure to listen to you results in the crisis you predicted.

Because by then, if you’re smart, you’re long gone to work for someone with the self-confidence and wisdom to listen to you do what they pay you for.