Future@Work

An Employee Survival Guide
for the 21st Century

 

Next

 

Why some people need to be supervised.

 

Some of the first memories of my childhood are about shoveling coal into the furnace on a cold winter day with my dad.

 

 

We always seemed to linger with the furnace door open, watching our "fireplace."
Nice memories.

 

Yes, I miss watching the glow of the coal burning; however, a thermostatically controlled gas furnace is my choice today. The thermostat monitors the temperature and "decides" when to run the furnace and for how long.

 

The coal furnace, in effect, "waited to be told what to do." The gas furnace, on the other hand, is self-regulated and "takes the initiative to do what is necessary."

 

I know both types of people as well. Some people, when working, ask themselves, "What is next?" and take the initiative to do what is necessary. Other people wait idly until told what to do next.

 

The word "next" is a simple yet powerful initiative or action word that suggests you are open to and seeking the next thing to do. The opposite is an "I'll wait" approach which often means "I'll do something when I am told to do it." "Next?" users are . . .