My manager suggested me for a project that a senior executive needed done. The VP was questioning some of the information provided by another department and asked me to investigate how it gathered, manipulated, and reported data.
It was totally out of my element, and there was a huge learning curve along with a lot of interaction with other departments. It was very uncomfortable, I didn't have time to do it, and I was certain that I was going to fail.
My manager made a suggestion on how I should perform the project, and I decided to do it my own way. There was a follow up meeting shortly thereafter with my manager and VP. Pretty much, I failed and missed the target on what the VP was requesting.
Although it would take more time, I started the project over from scratch. I got out of my comfort zone and began collaborating & interacting with the appropriate departments that I needed to in order to complete the project. Yes, there was great resistance and loads of questions, but I eventually found the answers that I needed. Because I focus on relationships, my goal was to get the information that I needed while also preserving working relationships.
After a lot of work, diplomacy, and creativity, the project was completed later than the VP expected. He expressed his concern that I did not have the project completed in the time frame that he felt I should have had it done. I totally accepted responsibility for his upset.
At that point, I communicated what it took to complete this project, the amount of manual work required, and the complexity of the project. Based on my feedback, he began to understand that the project was not as simple as he had expected.
Finally, the VP and I met one-on-one, and after he reviewed the detail, the meticulousness, and the professional presentation of the information, he was indeed highly impressed and expressed his satisfaction.
Now, the point of me sharing this is not to toot my own horn. In fact, even though he thought I did a great job, I only think about what I could have done better. Indeed, I am my own worst critic.
My point for sharing this is that sometimes you get projects, and management pays attention not only to how well you perform, but also how you conduct yourself during projects. Communication, methods, professionalism, adaptability, interactions with colleagues, and willingness to do whatever it takes are key (and it's what sets the achievers apart).
Daphne Robinson
www.careercougar.com
