THIS JOB IS YOURS!

I’ve been asked many times over the years to produce Job Descriptions for individuals and organizations, and they are usually surprised at what they get.

The Job Description is the basis upon which people first apply for a job, then the guide for doing the job, if they are hired. Despite what you may say, what will take place after the person is hired into the job is whatever it says in the document. “It’s Not My Job!” usually means that IT is not in the Job Description.

At Critical Path Business Solutions, our version of the Job Description is a “Responsibilities and Commitments” document that is truly unique in the workplace.

Job Descriptions are supposed to be objective and impersonal right?

WRONG! While Job Descriptions must be written based on the needs of the company, they should never be objective and impersonal.

If you want your staff to be disconnected from the quality of customer service or products/services that you sell, or the overall objectives of your company, give them a Job Description. These documents lack Personality and Commitment. They list the Accountabilities of the JOB, the Skill Sets required on the JOB and perhaps one or more of the following JOB-related areas: Working Conditions, Key Factors, Signing Authority and Activity List. The document may not even call for a signature….a key indicator of Commitment.

But what if a job applicant looks at a Responsibilities and Commitments document and sees that the company is committing to provide them job with training upgrades to not only help them do the job but also to progress into the next job?

What if the applicant is being asked to commit to do the job to the best of their ability, to continually look for ways to improve the job, and to commit to the overall objectives of the company? I believe most good employees want to make a difference. As an applicant, they would be impressed while weaker applicants will not even apply.

By employing the Responsibilities and Commitments method, you are telling your employee “This is your job. I commit to help you in any way I can. Now go and do it.” The employee is saying “This is my job. I commit to do it in the very best way I can. I may need some help from you but I believe in what I’m doing.”

Once you are on this track, measuring and managing employee performance becomes an easier matter. And Critical Path has some very logical ways of handling that too.

For more information, please check out “The Hands-On Performance Management System ©” on http://www.criticalpathbiz.com.