I'm going to say something that might sound a bit harsh. This is what bosses really think about their subordinates:
"Just get it done quickly."
Your work speed is slow.
Let's say you're assigned a task by your boss. For example, to come up with an advertisement banner.
You receive the explanation first, right?
At that point, your boss already has a hypothesis and an image of the final output in their head with about 70% accuracy. If they did it themselves, it would be finished in an hour. But they delegate it to you because they want you to grow.
Meanwhile, the subordinate says, "Understood, I'll think about it for a bit."
Hm? I already have a decent idea in my head. I just explained it. And what do you mean by "a bit"? This is work.
Then, one week later.
"I've thought about it a little, so I'd like you to see if the direction is correct."
What? ...Well, let's take a look.
And something completely off comes out.
Forget accuracy; even the direction is wrong. I don't even know where to start.
There are even worse cases. The pattern where there's no word even after a week, and I have to ask.
"Hey, what happened to that task?"
"Oh, I had other tasks and haven't been able to get to it yet..."
Wait... that was only about an hour's worth of work... And what other tasks were there again?
From there, the subordinate realizes they haven't met the boss's expectations and wants to make up for it, so they agonize over it. They research this and that. They try to feel out the direction by showing the boss small bits.
Please stop.
I know it's not done. You don't have to try to make up for it in a weird way. Just talk to me sooner.
I'm not angry that you can't do it, and I know you're trying hard.
So, don't run away into "tasks" or things you think you can do. Just talk.
I won't get angry or disappointed over your level of ability. It's only the attitude of trying to run away without even stepping up to the plate that I dislike.
I'll tell you the boss's true feelings.
First of all, your boss can work three times faster than you. Or rather, they have three times the volume of work they have to handle.
Therefore, their time axis for work is three times faster.
However, that doesn't mean they think they are doing every single task "perfectly with confidence." They are just doing it because they have to.
And of course, they don't expect a subordinate to suddenly perform with great accuracy. They can't even do it themselves.
So, at first, 70% of their own level is fine. It's okay if it reaches 100% after doing it together a few times. And eventually, they hope you grow to a level they can't even reach. They hope you can plant a flag in that field.
But what happens if things stay as they were before?
"If I give it to this person, it'll just turn into a disaster a week later."
They decide to stop delegating.
However, since they can't leave your capacity idle, they only give you things with low impact. Of course, there's no sense of fulfillment. Then the subordinate starts complaining.
"I want to do more meaningful work."
No, you closed that door yourself, is the reality.
So, what should you do?
When your boss tells you something, bring it to them in 1 hour.
Say, "I've thought about it."
The accuracy can be low. Just go to align the direction.
If you receive corrections there, bring it back again within that same day.
Bring it again the next morning.
By noon, something close to the boss's expectation is finished.
That is finally the speed of the boss's expectation.
This is the difference between "capable people" and those who aren't.
It's not about skill. It's not about sense.
It's whether you bring it in the first hour. Whether you know the boss's time axis.
It's just that small a difference.
But when this difference accumulates, the quality of the work you are given changes, the angle of your growth changes, and a year later, you are looking at a completely different landscape.
Your boss doesn't want to make you suffer. "Let's do it quickly" is the first step toward becoming a capable person.
Let's go catch that. Step up to the plate immediately. Let's move together in the rapid stream.
I have a complete guide on Note about how to "capture" your boss, so please take a look if you'd like.
note: The Complete Guide to Capturing Your Boss - How Aces Use Their Bosses
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