Knowing and Guessing

The line between average and exceptional work performance is dotted with ordinary day-by-day behaviors. I was reminded of that line recently. My husband was explaining to a nurse how he'd inadvertently taken the last dose of the live typhoid virus on the wrong day and wondered if he needed to retake the sequence prior to our Africa trip. "No," she commented, "I think you'll be fine." We both knew she was guessing.

While rolling down my sleeve from the next set of immunizations, a different nurse poked her head into the room. "I overheard your conversation at the desk." she said to Dan. "We've never had that situation, so I thought it best to call the drug manufacturer for advice. Turns out you need to retake the entire dosage." We were grateful she took the extra step.

It's not possible to know all the answers to all the questions you'll get tossed in the workplace. But, be willing to say when you don't. That's better than giving out misinformation or guessing at an answer without making it clear it's a guess. People who are winning at working add four words - "but I'll find out." And they do find out and get back to the person. That extra step differentiates their performance in the workplace.

Jeff was already in the department when I was hired to manage it. "I don't know" was his typical response when queried beyond the surface status reports of his projects. At first, I expected Jeff to automatically find out the answers to my questions and inform me, his new boss. But he never did. Jeff managed to train me to follow up to his "I don't know," with "please find out and tell me."

Jeff worked for me for two years and at the time I moved on, I was still asking him to find out. For Jeff and people like Jeff, "I don't know" is a habitual way to reduce their task list. To them, "I don't know" ends it. What they don't realize is what else it ends in the minds of their bosses, clients or customers.

It baffles me that someone thinks saying "I don't know" suffices when it involves their work responsibilities. It baffles me how frequently people offer their best guesses like factual answers. And it baffles me, in my twenty years in management, how surprisingly few people took the small step to find out. Those who did stood out. They went from guessing to knowing. Find out answers and you'll build knowledge that differentiates you.

Want to be winning at working? Stop guessing; start knowing. The next time you find yourself venturing a guess on an important answer, pause. Then reframe your response with, "I don't know for sure, but I'll find out for you." Not only will you be adding to your knowledge base, but when you find out and follow up with the person, you'll be building your credibility and crossing an important performance line.

(c) 2005 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.

Sign up to receive Nan's free biweekly eColumn at http://www.winningatworking.com Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford University and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her first book, Winning at Working: 10 Lessons Shared, Nan is a writer, columnist, small business owner, and on-line instructor.

Visit http://www.nanrussell.com or contact Nan at info@nanrussell.com.

---

Google News Updated : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:08:57 GMT Persistence pays off for Serena at US Open - FOXSports.com ESPN Persistence pays off for Serena at US Open FOXSports.com - 30 minutes ago by Matt Cronin, Special to FOXSports.com NEW YORK - About nine days after Serena Williams lost in the Wimbledon final to her elder sister, Venus, she was still killing herself, unable to shake her mind of the errors that came late in a contest that she ... Williams beats Jankovic for title, No. 1 ranking San Francisco Chronicle Winning US Open never gets old for Serena Williams Los Angeles Times Boston Globe - Sports Network - New York Times - ESPN all 2,499 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:38:21 GMT New Zealand compromises on India nuclear deal - Xinhua BBC News New Zealand compromises on India nuclear deal Xinhua - 32 minutes ago WELLINGTON, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government said on Monday that it got the best deal it could on nuclear trade with India. Indian shares rise more than 4 pct early Reuters Indian rupee rises as stocks rally seen Reuters India Inter Press Service - Monsters and Critics.com - Financial Times - Washington Post all 2,384 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:36:42 GMT Fla. Keys residents weigh evacuation ahead of Ike - The Associated Press China Daily Fla. Keys residents weigh evacuation ahead of Ike The Associated Press - 48 minutes ago KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - As a ferocious Hurricane Ike ripped across Cuba, residents from Key West to the Gulf Coast watched the storm's unpredictable path, worrying it could hit anywhere in the US from Texas to Florida. 'Hurricane fatigue' shows DetNews.com Louisiana still possibility for Ike Opelousas Daily World Biloxi Sun Herald - The News-Press - Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck - Carlsbad Current Argus all 1,660 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:20:42 GMT Hurricane Ike Crosses Northeast Cuba After Landfall (Update1) - Bloomberg RTE.ie Hurricane Ike Crosses Northeast Cuba After Landfall (Update1) Bloomberg - 1 hour ago By Aaron Sheldrick and Demian McLean Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Hurricane Ike is crossing Cuba after smashing into the northeast of the country with winds of 205 kilometers (125 miles) per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Center. Video: Raw Video: Ike's Harsh Impact on Turks and Caico AssociatedPress Hurricane Ike set to batter Cuba BBC News Los Angeles Times - Reuters - Reuters UK - CNN International all 4,240 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:56:09 GMT McCain Leads Obama 50% to 46%, New Poll Finds, USA Today Reports - Bloomberg McCain Leads Obama 50% to 46%, New Poll Finds, USA Today Reports Bloomberg - 30 minutes ago By James Kraus Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain leads Democratic contender Barack Obama by 50 percent to 46 percent among registered voters, according to a weekend USA Today/Gallup Poll, USA Today reported. Convention rejuvenates GOP USA Today US campaign sharpens as McCain takes poll lead AFP Reuters - The Associated Press - KVOA.com - Boston Herald all 767 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:38:07 GMT Store eases baby bottleneck - Chicago Tribune dBTechno Store eases baby bottleneck Chicago Tribune - 19 hours ago When Georgette Finnie e-mailed What's Your Problem? on Aug. 25, she was 9 months' pregnant with her first child. The expectant mom had done some research about the baby bottles she had received as gifts through her baby registry at Babies "R" Us. Hot Docs: Defending Georgia, Girls Married by 15, the Chemical BPA ... U.S. News & World Report That Plastic Baby Bottle New York Times Food Consumer - Washington Post - Times of India - eFluxMedia all 362 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:18:53 GMT "Stand Up to Cancer" tops Friday ratings - Reuters ABC News "Stand Up to Cancer" tops Friday ratings Reuters - 31 minutes ago By Paul J. Gough NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - The industrywide "Stand Up to Cancer" telethon averaged a modest 10.3 million viewers during its hour-long simulcast on ABC, NBC and CBS Friday. In a star-heavy telethon, Hollywood takes a stand on cancer Boston Globe 'Stand Up to Cancer' Raises $100M Plus ABC News The Associated Press - Orlando Sentinel - Showbiz Spy all 164 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:37:28 GMT Merchant Datafeeds RSS Software

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

15 Tips for Writing Winning Resumes

The thought of writing a resume intimidates... Read More

Make em READ Your Cover Letter Using This Killer Secret!

Got your attention? Great. That was my intention. Who wouldn't... Read More

How To Conduct A Successful Job Search Campaign

1.Define your objective: Know what kind of work you most... Read More

Resume Software ? The Hidden Pitfalls

Disadvantages of Resume SoftwareFormat A large majority of software requires... Read More

Inside Sales Jobs: A Job Worth Seeking?

Are you interested in inside sales as a career? Inside... Read More

How NOT to Write a Resume

You can learn a lot about how to do something... Read More

Why Choose A Professionally Written Resume?

Good question, considering that nowadays you can find many useful... Read More

Do You Need A Mentor? And How Do You Find One?

Whether you're self-employed or you work for someone else, you're... Read More

Career Advice: Are Resumes Obsolete As A Primary Job Search Tool?

In a day of background checks, pre-employment drug screening and... Read More

8 ?Thurvival Skills? for 05

Just what is a "thurvival skill?" It's a skill that... Read More

Career Success: Get Ahead of the Crowd

Regardless of where you open your briefcase or palm pilot... Read More

So, What Do You Do For Work?

I remember being asked this question a lot when I... Read More

How to Work Effectively With Recruiters

"R-E-S-P-E-C-T / find out what it means to me" is... Read More

Consultants - If We Cant Laugh At Ourselves?

There are hundreds of varieties of Consultants these days. We... Read More

Top 10 Skills for New World of Work

There are many changes coming in the world of work,... Read More

Making Yourself More Relevant To The New Workplace

Being a current job seeker can be quite a challenging... Read More

Job Hunting Tips: Staying Active

Unemployment is depressing: financial pressures stress you out, looking for... Read More

Listening for Interview Success

Yes I know that we usually think of interviews as... Read More

Ten Great Careers For Computer ?Geeks

The universal acceptance of computers into our daily lives, both... Read More

Travel Light to Work

As a frequent traveler, my goal for each trip is... Read More

Preparing For Your Job Interview: What You Need To Know To Be Successful

In the limited time an interviewer has with you, their... Read More

The Recruiting Truth...Time Is Not On Your Side

In today's marketplace things are constantly changing and so are... Read More

How To Find Writing Work

Are you looking for new writing work? It can be... Read More

What Not To Include In Your Resume

Do you have a difficult time determining what does not... Read More

How to Negotiate The Best Salary and Benefit Packages

Salary and Benefits NegotiationOne of the most difficult aspects of... Read More