Should you go the extra mile?

Some might say that this question is similar to asking, “Would you do it for free?”

There are different perspectives depending on who you ask. For a freelancer or contractor who’s paid by the hour, going the extra mile may mean unpaid work or a loss of opportunity. For a full time employee, it may not matter as much as long as the task is done within the parameters of one’s work.?

Three weeks ago, I ran a poll asking the LinkedIn community whether they’d accept a task that’s not in their job description, assuming that it’s ethical and legal.

64% said “It depends”, 33% said “Yes, of course!” and 3% said, “Definitely not”.?

Among those who did not say No, saw these out-of-scope tasks as an opportunity to gain experience, build skills and contribute to the organization. They focused more on medium to long term benefits rather than the short term discomfort of doing something more.?

The common denominator I see regardless of what one’s answer is, we all want to know, what’s in it for me, in the short or long term?

Here are 3 questions you can ask yourself when you are faced with these situations in your career:

1 - Is it aligned to my path??

Yesterday, on my way to a client engagement, I felt my tummy grumble because I haven’t had breakfast yet. So I asked the driver if we could drive thru the Starbucks branch, which was less than 1km away from our destination. He did not agree saying that it was out of the way. ??

With morning rush traffic and one-way streets, it was indeed out of the way and would delay him from picking up his next passenger.?

In our life and career, there are detours that we can’t avoid, some that are worth taking and others that are mere distractions. When you need to make a decision to take on an extra task or responsibility, reflect on what kind of detour this could be based on its impact on your life and career. Remember to consider both short and long term. This task might contribute to your overall career goals, but if you are currently unwell physically or mentally, then it might not be a good idea to take this on now. But keep your doors open for similar tasks in the future.?

2 - Is the task from someone you trust?

I am not a supporter of being a people-pleaser, but I know that relationships play a big role in our decisions. We buy from people we trust. We allow ourselves to be vulnerable with people we trust.?

You are more likely to accept a task or a request from someone you trust because you know that they have your best interest in mind. Of course, still within the bounds of morals, values, ethics and the law.?

This also emphasizes the importance of leadership building empathy, psychological safety and trust in organizations.?

Leaders touch a heart, before they ask for a hand - John Maxwell

3 - Are there other ways of achieving the same result?

Sometimes, you might be asked to do something that contributes towards a shared goal, but you don’t necessarily agree with the steps that you have to take to get there.?

Let’s say that your team has a goal of getting more participants for an upcoming event. Even if it’s not part of your role, the Event Organizer, knowing that you’re an influential person, asks you to threaten or impose extreme consequences to those who are not coming. This approach doesn’t sit well with you, so you might suggest supporting them through other means such as boosting marketing efforts or providing incentives.?

Clarify the goal or the intention of the task, then ask yourself, is there another way to do this?

Be open, yet be on guard.

Being someone whose top strength is being strategic, I like exploring possibilities and considering options. So when I get a request for a task that may be out-of-scope, I look at it with openness and curiosity. Is it aligned to my path? Is it from someone you trust?? Are there other options??

And then I refer back and stay on guard to ensure that I stand firm by my principles, honor my values and draw boundaries.

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Coach Kurly de Guzman is a Career and Leadership Coach and one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices based in the Philippines. She continuously seeks ways to help coaches, leaders and teams thrive through her newsletter, leadership and career development workshops as well as group and 1:1 coaching sessions for clients.?

To work with Kurly, send an email to [email protected] or book an exploratory call to discuss your organization’s needs here.