You’re organized, you are the type that puts a daily schedule together, you even have a list that you check off as you complete those daily tasks. You are proactive at everything you do and that’s your strength - that’s what makes you great at what you do!

Unfortunately, your boss and the people around you aren’t like you, they’re the opposite; they’re reactive; they’re unscheduled and they run around placing their time and resources into putting out the biggest fire of the day. You are one of those ‘resources’ so as hard as you try to stay on task with your schedule, you fail because you’re getting pulled into the reactionary quagmire.

Face it, if you have ever experienced this scenario, you probably became very frustrated and began disliking your job which eventually led to finding a new job.

I experienced that scenario several times and I eventually left and found new jobs but as I became more experienced and continued to find myself in businesses run in a reactionary mode, I discovered another solution.

Whenever my boss would come to me with the request to help put out the biggest fire of the day, I would ask, “when do you need this by?”

I was amazed how often that perceived ‘fire’ didn’t need my attention for several hours or even a day or two. By forcing my boss to give me a timeframe for his request, I stayed in control of my schedule and I indirectly began to put some structure into his schedule. Making both of us more effective and organized.

After years of jumping to new companies to avoid the reactionary culture, only to get hired at another company that was equally reactionary, I realized it was happening because my boss either consciously or subconsciously hired me in part because I possessed the trait of proactive organization which my boss needed to compliment his weakness and I was doing the same as I enjoyed the freedoms that come with a boss that is reactionary in nature.

Once I figured that out, I began taking over my bosses projects allowing me to create process and organization where there was none which helped prevent future ‘fires’ and made me and my boss more efficient and effective. That led to my having even more freedom and responsibility which eventually grew into new titles and promotions.

By asking “when do you need this by?” you are taking the first step to organizing your boss’ time. You are taking the first step at making you and your boss more efficient! Don’t get frustrated with your boss and perhaps the whole reactionary culture of the company. See it as an opportunity to share your greatest trait - organized proactivity.

Begin with helping your boss organize his/her schedule and continue to build out from there. Before you know it, you will become the lead in changing the culture and you will be noticed and followed as you continue to climb the corporate ladder.

All of this will occur just because you made the habit of asking “when do you need this by?”