I must tell you that my wife enjoyed the opening sentence in the blog entitled You Should Talk Before… As I said then and continue to believe, I cannot read her mind, nor can she read mine. But one thing we can do with success is anticipate each other very well. The years that we have spent together have given us the ability to understand what and how each other thinks about and reacts to different topics. Because we have that level of understanding, it is pretty easy for me to “know” how she will react or what she might need in preparation for some event.
The same thing happens at work when teams work well together.
What does it mean to anticipate? Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary says that anticipation is a prior action that takes into account a later action, or the act of looking forward – visualizing a future event or state.
While the dictionary uses a lot of words, a simple definition we can use for anticipation is having something ready for someone else before being asked for it. This is really a key skill to develop in your career (and in relationships). Being able to predict what your boss/team needs before it’s needed helps create efficiency.
Let’s look at a real-world example. Each morning, my assistant and I have our own daily start up meeting (Muster 1). We use this time to cover anything that may have changed since the day before, talk about the upcoming events of the day, discuss any open projects that need our attention, cover the “to do” list and have a bit of small talk. When she comes in, she is always ready to discuss any topic. It is very rare that I catch her flat-footed on any topic. That’s because she prepares before she comes in for our startup meeting. She has taken the time to anticipate what I may ask her before she comes in. I have to give her credit because her ability to “know” what I need and when I need it really helps me run our company day to day.
The same thing is true for me. If I’m doing my job, then I should try to anticipate what my bosses may need before they need it. Whether it’s an answer to a question or a presentation on a particular topic, I should do my best to provide it before they need it.
You might wonder how you can do this. It is much easier than you may think. One of the keys is to listen. I mean really listen – actively listen to the conversations that you have with your boss. I will bet you that he or she will lay down clues about what they are working on or what they may need help with. If you are listening, you should be able to pick up the clues they are dropping.
It’s satisfying when you can give your boss a helping hand before they ask for it. The more you do it, the more your boss will see it and appreciate your help.
One more thing to cover… Since you are working to anticipate what your boss may need, don’t be discouraged if you don’t hit the target on the first try. Whether it’s a presentation, spreadsheet or paper of some sort, you probably won’t have it right the first time. One thing that I have learned is that it is far easier to EDIT than it is to CREATE so providing a head start can be really helpful. I also don’t get offended because it’s another opportunity to learn.
As you get to know the needs of your team and your bosses, you will develop this skill and will get very good at it if you practice.
See you on the deckplates!
Safely Execute High-Quality Work