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A common bad practice workers exhibit is making up EXCUSES for not completing an assignment or delivering on or before a given deadline. If you’re a worker who always gives fantastic excuses why you’re unable to meet targets, know it today that your boss will soon recommend your posting away from his office, department or team.
Well, I know some excuses are quite valid but they don’t solve business problems. Your spouse is sick, it’s your child’s birthday, it was your wedding anniversary, the machine failed, there was heavy traffic, Needed to do school runs, I had headache, my laptop crashed, etc. are often excuses employees give for not being able to deliver or meet deadlines 🤨
Imagine these two scenarios:
Scenario 1:
A boss gives Julius a memo to type and return first thing in the morning. Unfortunately, he cannot type so he contracted a typist who is excellent and has been delivering. He promised him it would be ready in the morning. Next morning, Julius was waiting for the memo for ages. He rang the typist but his phone line was off. In the midst of his frustration, his boss requested for the memo.
Julius went in; “sorry sir, the job is not ready. I gave it to a typist around 12 o’clock yesterday and he promised to deliver this morning only for me to call the guy’s number and they’re telling me, it’s switched off. But sir, I’ll go to his shop now and check”
Scenario 2:
Tony is given the same task, he can’t type either so he went to a typist to sort it out. He sat with the typist to supervise the work and to make corrections in case of mistakes. Half way through, the plaza loses power and they couldn’t fixed it. He takes his job away to another business center but it was too late; they’re closed for the day. He took the job home and got back at 7 o’clock (am). He was able to get it typed and ready before 9 o’clock when the boss needs it.
When the boss requested, Tony went in with a file containing the memo and said; “here it is sir.” His boss asked, “how did you manage to type it, because the whole plaza was out of power yesterday?”
Tony; “…yes sir, it was almost done when the power outage occurred. I quickly took it to another center but it was too late. I had to come back very early this morning to get it ready, sir”.
If you’re are the boss, who will you take seriously? Yes, both lack the basic skill but one obviously is smarter. Lacking the skill to deliver is one thing, knowing where and how to solve problems and deliver on KIPs is another. I’ve seen bosses recommend some staff for promotion and requesting concessionary posting of staff along with their own postings. I’ve experienced colleagues being transferred from nice departments because they’re ineffective and inefficient.
Excuses don’t solve problems and honestly, bosses hate excuses. What they want and always is RESULT. If you’re unable to deliver for any reason, let the boss know and do this on time.
Justin Udie writes from Nottingham University Trent, United Kingdom
