When You Should Have Someone Check Your Work - The Muse

When You Should Have Someone Check Your Work - The MuseWhen You Should Have Someone Check Your Work Youre moving up in your career. More people than ever before are leaning on you for answers. That feels pretty great, right? It should But at the same time, does it make you nervous to ask for help? More specifically, do you get skittish about asking someone to check your work because youre supposed to be beyond that? If so, thats a totally prototyp feeling. But also one you should get out of your system.Because no matter high up the ladder you get, therell always be times when smart people know they need a second pair of eyes on their work. Here are a few examples1. Youre Sending Personalized, Confidential Emails to Multiple ClientsThis might seem like Career 101 to you. I mean, you know how to send an email, right? Of course you do. But some are tougher than others to write- especially when you have to attach confidential information. And when you have send it to multiple clients. In a previous job, I was responsible for handling end-of-month billing reports for a long list of clients. If I had sent the wrong documents to the wrong client, I wouldve been in hot water. So, my boss and I agreed that it made sense for her to check each one before I sent them. Sound silly? I thought so, too. But two years and zero mistakes later, I wouldnt have done it any differently.2. Youre Sending a Very Important EmailYoure probably thinking, Again with the emails? You wouldnt be in the position youre in if you couldnt craft a solid message to a teammate. Or a client. Or your mother. But again, some are more important than others. And in lots of cases, youd look way less organized if you forgot a detail or struck the wrong tone and had to send a follow-up to correct your mistake. Heres a rule of thumb I swear by If an emails going to someone important (as in, the wrong message could really backfire on you or your company), ask a colleague to take a quick look. Shell confirm if youve covered everything you want to say, and if youre saying it right.3. Your Project Has a Lot of Little StepsYou might be working on a long presentation. Or maybe you have to put together a detailed report for a client. Or you need to submit a formal plan to your boss before a product launch. Some things at work have a lot of details. And as awesome as you are, its actually smart of you to ask someone to look over the work youve done in these cases. But, make it easier for those people to help you out. Dont just show them the finished project and ask for general feedback. Send the list of requirements you had for the task, including any goals you discussed when you first start. This will make it easier for them to cross-check what youve done well, and what they think you should take another stab at.4. Youve Made Mistakes on Similar Tasks in the PastHey, mistakes happen. And even when you have the best intentions, sometimes those mistakes happen again. For me, Im really bad at re ading and interpreting spreadsheets, which has resulted in quite a few mishaps.Since Im a professional writer, this might not sound like a big deal. But a lot of what I do at work involves interpreting spreadsheets- so I now know that I need someone to let me know if Ive read the information correctly. Smart people dont just admit theyve made mistakes. They know that the first step to correcting them is asking someone for help so it doesnt happen again. So instead of keeping it to yourself and figuring it out, dont be afraid to speak up and have someone double-check your work (at least until youre confident again).5. Youre Out of Your Comfort ZoneA lot of people I know are really good at learning on the job. How do they do it? First, they take things on that are outside of their comfort zone. And when they do, they ask for lots and lots of help along the way. Maybe youre a marketing person whos managing budgets for the first time. Or maybe youre in sales and your boss is asking you to write reports that affect your entire team. If youre being trusted with something outside of your job description, do two things. First, pat yourself on the back. Then, find someone with more experience and ask that person to take an editors pen to whatever youve done. You might feel uncomfortable asking for so much help. But it doesnt have to be a one-way street. Offer to return the favor in the future, or buy them lunch, or thank them publicly.In my previous job, I always used to send wrap-up emails that concluded with, Huge shout out to my boss for reading over all those client emailsIf youre still worried about crossing a line, ask in advance Most people wont say no to a quick favor if its on their schedule (and not on your rushed one). Most importantly, switch who you ask from time to time. Youll show them that you respect their time- and their feedback on your work. And remember Smart people get ahead because they arent afraid to ask for help.