Do You Need Anything Before I Head Out?

Early on in my career I got a bit of constructive criticism that stung at the time, but has become an interesting part of my criticism for others as a boss.

At the end of the day when my shift was over, I would shut down, grab my purse, and head into my bosses office to ask if she needed anything else. The truth is I never intended on helping with anything else; I was already one foot out the door.

I never thought that it was a big deal until one day she told me “If you really wanted to offer help, you would ask me if I needed anything before you were already walking out the door. Spare me the pleasantries.”

Ouch! She caught me red handed, it was an embarrassment that I certainly wish I could have done without, and you better bet that from that day on I was in her office fifteen minutes before the end of my shift GENUINELY asking if there was anything I could help her with.

It reminded me of times when I needed to get home for some reason or had to make an appointment. What if she DID need help and had asked me to stay? How would I gracefully explain that I really didn’t mean to be offering my assistance, I just wanted to look good?

I would much rather one of my employees stop by and say “I’m taking off; have a good night” versus asking me if I need help when they have their coat and sunglasses on and car keys in hand. It is obvious that they have no intentions on helping, and it would make ME feel like a jerk if I did ask for help.

I learned a valuable lesson that day that carries through personally and professionally: if you don’t really want to help, don’t offer. Being genuine goes a long way and will spare you some embarrassment along the way!

My two cents, anyway :-)