Being the “Get sh*t done” Person is Holding You Back

Are you the get sh*t done person at your company?

This is what it could look like:

→ You say yes to every request/task

→ You do work that is urgent but not important

→ You’re asked to do things other people pushed back on

→ A lot of your work is administrative

→ You’re told you are ‘helpful’ but not strategic

You work hard, you put in the extra effort and you are reliable.

Those are all great qualities to have to grow your career. However, when you are ONLY known for being the person who gets stuff done, it can hold you back. Especially if you want to break through to more senior roles.

When you're the “get sh*t done person” you are not executive material

I used to be the get sh*t done employee for a long time

It wasn't a bad thing, necessarily

Except...

At some point, it became a liability. I got so good at it, that I was constantly given tasks that:

↳ Were urgent (but not important)

↳ Other people pushed back on

↳ Were administrative in nature

The result?

I spent my time putting out fires, doing work outside my scope that was not meaningful, I was overworked but under-appreciated, and none of that “extra work” moved the needle for my career.

Don't get me wrong, my employers were happy. I was told repeatedly that I was "helpful". My ability to get things done was celebrated, but helpful didn't get me promoted.

I was perceived as someone who can “do” stuff, but not as a strategic leader.

The first perception canceled out the latter. I could be either or, but not both.

And that meant I couldn’t level up.

Shift from doing more work to doing meaningful work

Getting sh*t done feels good. It makes you feel accomplished. It moves things forward and creates a sense of progress.

Saying no, asking for strategic work, delegating administrative tasks, and sharing your ideas are scary. It requires stepping outside of your comfort zone and doing new things.

But… that’s the difference between getting work done and doing meaningful work.

The first will keep you stuck, the second will get you promoted.

Here are a few things you can do to shift from getting work done to doing meaningful work:

Learn to say no, or not right now

Delegate, automate, or eliminate meaningless work

Focus on creating results, not just checking off boxes

Ask for opportunities to do strategic work

The first step to change how others see you is to change how you act.

Do more meaningful work that is aligned with “executive material” and your actions will shift the perception.

It's okay to be helpful and reliable. We take pride in our ability to execute and work hard.

There's nothing wrong with getting work done, as long as you are also helping yourself.

Doing work that allows you to grow your career, not just checks a box for your employer.

I believe in you and I’m rooting for you.

Maya ❤️