What Level of Competence Should We Expect?
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
September 29, 2007 7:49pm CST
One of the jobs I did in the U.S. Army was "Parachute Rigger". Me and my buddies spent our days either packing parachutes, preparing vehicles and equipment for airdrop delivery or airdrop equipment maintenance and repair.
At graduation, we are awarded "Rigger Wings" to wear on our uniforms.
One day I was at the Finance unit trying to take care of a problem with my pay. I had been trying to get this problem solved for almost a year, and in that meeting I learned that yet another problem had come up.
When I asked the Specialist why it was so hard to actually get anything fixed, he said, "well, we do the best we can". I looked on his chest and saw Jump Wings (which meant he jumped out of airplanes... in other words, he used the parachutes me and my buddies packed. I then looked at my own chest (pointing out the Rigger Wings) and asked him...
Aren't you glad I don't settle for "the best I can" in my job?
When I was a paramedic, I had to go talk to the people at a certain government agency. Just like my experiences with Army Finance, the people in this government agency botched it up time and time again. I was in my paramedic uniform at the time. Again, I asked the person, "aren't you glad I don't settle for 'the best I can" in my job?
When I teach guitar to my students, I am willing to settle for, "The best I can" from them... I do what any good teacher does, that is, I pull more out of them than they thought was there... but in the end, I'll accept "it's the best I can do".
Have you ever noticed that nobody seems to say "I did my best..." when they did a great job? It is nothing more than a way to try to excuse incompetence.
When we pay someone to do a job for which they have been trained, tested and are being paid to do... we deserve better... we should expect a better standard.
3 responses
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
30 Sep 07
There should be a minimum standard set for any job you do.
When I was a Corrections Officer we had performance appraisals every 6 months, and we had certain standards to meet in order to have a Successful rating. Several different skills areas were covered.
Failure to meet these standards consistently was grounds to be placed on probationary employee status just as if you were a brand new hire.
While on that status, they could fire you for any reason at any time. You also were not eligible to bid on any jobs that came open.
Failure to bring your rating up to successful was ground for firing if they wanted, and the choice was theirs.
I think this type of system should be the norm, because too many people try to just do enough to get by.
Your job should demand your absolute best at all times, and the standards should be spelled out so that there can be no confusion.
People who don't measure up should be weeded out and replaced with the ones who do measure up.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
1 Oct 07
That's the problem, most jobs do set a minimum standard, but few employers are willing to hold anyone to them.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
1 Oct 07
Haven't we been told for years that trying is more important that doing. We praise players when they lose and don't celebrate with the winners. Many schools have eliminated Failing Grades to boost self esteam. We have taught a generation that doing just enough is doing a great job. My son was once kicked out of a soccer (AYSO) game because he came from behind a player and got infront and took the balll away. The refree said it was unfair because the other player could not see him until he was in front and could not react quick enough. It is now a penality in the NFL to celebtrate too much when you score a touchtown or sack the quarter back.
Teaching ourchldren these things is it any wonder that doing just enough has become the norm.
@Junhsu (1)
• China
30 Sep 07
although, i haven't standed on my job stage. here, i can learn more. in my superficial piont of view, as a freshman who will come to this competitive socity, apart from mastering the knowledge in ur university, we should have a strong skill of solving problems, including adapting the new environment rapidly, facing the complicated interpersonal-relation and so on. ur attitude decides ur action.
