'Working on it' or 'Getting it done'?
'Working on it' or 'Getting it done'? Which are you known for?
Versus
We often hear the words, 'I am working on it' when we want someone to do something that needs to be done or that needs to have been done well.
For as long as I have known, these things that are being "worked" on never get done because, 'working on something doesn't mean it will be completed. But when someone tells you they will get it done,you can be erst assured it will be done.
Are you a "WORKING ON IT" person or a "GETTING IT DONE" person?
This is one tricky question because both of these two actions look alike.
Some are very good at working and getting results while some never waste their time telling you about what they are doing as they prefer to just get it done and present you with results.
Let's have a discuss between the two.
I once asked this question in one of the conferences I was invited to speak a while ago and the vibe I got was that, they are one and the same thing. Of course, I begged to differ as I was sure they are not and still do till now and I will explain.
Below, I will make a brief comparison of the two from a lame man's perspective so we see how strikingly similar they are when spoken and how different they turn out result wise.
Team "Working on it."
This team is actually made up of driven people who will tell you they will produce results because they know how to do the work. But, inside this team are the most number of those who live for "working on it" than actually "working on it."
In this team, you get some good people. Say, 3 of 10 are actually the ones working on it, while the rest are the lazy ones who will do better every time they need to discourage you and themselves through procrastination. You will know they are working on it because they will never give you any reason to doubt that they are working on it.
This team is usually packed full with procrastinators who in their numbers try to hide inside a tiny crowd of those who are actually working.
Many are not really working but will like to paint the picture that they are. They will load their desk with files and litter the floor with pieces of paper to present a working front so you know and continually have that picture in your head that they are working.
These individuals will brag and boast of their ability to do their work when needed and then, you get the most shocking result at the 11th hour... they were just "working on their plans to finally get to doing what it was you wanted them to do."
Everyone works but only very few are really seen as working. The world we live in is coated with deception so much so that, the man without a deceptive plan seldom wins against the man with one.
The world is programmed in such a messed up way that, deceit is preferred above genuine intents and because the man will always expect more than is need, he goes with the man who comes bearing tales than one with the actual tale.
These individuals can simply make you get off their backs by telling you they are working on your case file meanwhile, they are playing Warcraft on their computer with you standing in the queue waiting.
Quick take: This team is not all procrastinators, but it has a high volume of it because, it is easy to be in this team and hide behind those that are actually working on it.
Team "Getting it done."
This is my favorite team but most hated one by world standard because, they are seen as 'oversabi or I too know.' They do not go around presenting a front that they are working, they go deep into really doing the job and it is these ones that produces the results.
In this team are the ones who are actually working on it and then they are able to return to you with results. They do not have to litter their desk with files for you to see that they working, they will always come result first.
They are goal oriented.
Let me tell you a little story.
During my banking days, I worked with a guy who was always "working on it." Whenever it was time for weekly reporting, he will come up with so many prospects for the month and the manager will be really impressed that the guy is working. When asked when he will bring the big accounts, he will tell the manager in these exact words, "I am working on it sir."
Whenever it was time for myself and some other members of the team to present, we always ended up being asked by the manager to seat up and take a cue from the "working on it" guy.
So seat up we did and we approached him and his team to find out how he was doing it. At first he was reluctant as he said, "a magician never reveals his secrets."
After what seemed like a week, he decided to reveal his secret and it was really a secret.
This is what he does. When he is coming to work every morning, he tries to think of names of organizations he will present as his prospects and will copy the ones he sees on the signage and office buildings and he will create fictitious names and titles and use that as his prospect for the week.
When asked where he goes during the day, he said he tries to see if he can actually get some business done and if he doesn't get any, he goes to home to rest or if he has enough money, he goes to the cinema. Shocking!!!
I was shocked that it actually was working for him because he was able to keep his job while most of the "getting it done" guys lost their jobs because their prospects list where just empty.
Long story short, he got fired that year when he was unable to spin his sorry tale over the new manager who was brought in to replace the one who liked activities more than action.
Do not be that guy who is only heard as working; be seen as working and let results define you.
Too often, the working man is never seen because he is busy putting in genuine working time, while the lazy ones spend their time thinking up plots to make them look busy instead of truly working.
I know we all have our stories of some individuals whose method of work is simply ridiculous and thieving. If you have spent time working on various jobs like I have, you will definitely have a story to tell.
I am not saying anyone who says "they are working on it{ is insincere or that they are lazy. What I am simply saying is that, it is easier to see many fall into this class because, it makes it look easy for them to scale through dishonestly while the ones who are actually doing the job, get no credits.
In my local parlance, we call it it "Monkey dey work, Baboon dey chop."
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Sadly I am a working on it kind of person I need to switch to getting it done
It is not exactly a bad thing if you actually are working on it and trying to produce results. The whole idea of the post is to show that, there are some who use the word, "working on it" to avoid doing the work.
Stay Awesome!
I am kind of mixed between these two terms "working on it " and "getting it done", but it depends to be honest. From my perspective , when I handle a client of my own I prefer "getting it done" but sometimes as a team member I use term "working on it " because I don't want to give surety or specific time table or deadline, but I always prefer to work silently and express when it is done... Love the entire topic and how you have explained both term...
Keep up the good work...
Thanks a lot for your contribution...
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Thank you. i like the fact you have a mix of both and are able to know when you should "work on it" and "get it done". Results are mostly demanded of us when there is importance tied to what is needed of us.
In a team, there are those who truly are the "working on it" type who will do whatever they can to avoid getting anything done. They are the ones who make the term suck.
Stay Awesome!
Great topic as always.
Thanks for your contribution.
Regards,
@anggreklestari
[Realityhubs Curator]