We expect our bosses and co-workers to intuit our needs. How could they NOT see that you are eminently qualified to helm the new project your company just landed? How could they NOT observe that your monitor is on the fritz and it’s killing your productivity? How could they NOT notice you’ve clearly outgrown your current position and are no longer challenged?
It’s called the “illusion of transparency,” a natural cognitive bias that leads us to overestimate others’ ability to know our mental state. (Arguments related to the illusion of transparency inevitably conclude with the other party throwing up their hands in frustration and saying, “I’m not a mind reader!”)
Particularly with people we interact with on a daily basis, such as our colleagues, we fall prey to this illusion. It creates a false sense of understanding, and a false belief in the possibility of change. We assume that our colleagues know more than they actually do about our wants and needs, and thus refrain from speaking up and clearly articulating them.
See if any of these situations sound familiar:
- You lack the proper resources to excel. Are there simple things that could easily help you do your job significantly better? Such a “resource” could be anything from more RAM to speed your desktop workflow, to a two-week professional development class, to a new intern to manage your less challenging tasks.
- Your best skills are going to waste. Your position is not challenging you, or helping you grow. Perhaps it’s because you have an untapped skill set your boss doesn’t even know about, or maybe you’re just not getting assigned projects that align with your strengths.
- Your workload is experience “scope creep.” Your general competence has turned you into a magnet for new tasks. Your job responsibilities are growing out of control as new tasks are assigned to you through circumstance or randomness rather than with good reason, and based on your interests and strengths.
The tendency in the above situations is to endure, assuming that the circumstances are unchangeable as we wait for a higher-up to recognize what seems like a glaringly obvious problem. But remember: What seems obvious to you may not be obvious to others at all.
If there’s something that you need, be it a new desktop tool or a new job description, you must take it upon yourself to: 1) identify the problem that needs to be addressed, and 2) articulate a solution that’s good for you and good your company. Your overworked boss will be much more likely to listen to your complaints if they are accompanied by a simple plan for solving the problem.
Contrary to popular cliché, greatness is rarely “thrust upon us.” We must learn to be our own best advocates in the workplace, constantly petitioning for the projects and resources that will enable us to thrive in our careers. Part of your job as a creative – if you want to grow – is to constantly refine and re-define your job.
The next time you’re frustrated at work, consider how you might make a case for change. Think about it like you’re developing a pitch deck for a client, only this time the client is your boss.
