The team wants Starbucks.
And as the low man on the totem poll, you get the call.
It doesn’t seem fair. It’s not right.
You didn’t go to college for this.
But how well you perform this mundane task is the key to your advancement.
Even the Simplest Task Demonstrates Your Capabilities
You see, a Starbucks run may seem like a stupid errand that even a monkey can do.
But the truth is, there are several things at play.
How happy are you to handle this task … demonstrates your commitment to the team.
How do you go about collecting the orders … shows your organization skills.
Do you get the orders correct … how thorough you are.
If you break the task down into the simplest of parts, you will see that along the way, you are actually demonstrating much more about your abilities.
You Have These Opportunities Every Day
Every day in your account management job, there are tasks like this that seem mundane and meaningless.
They seem like tasks that someone else should be performing.
Or something that your boss should do himself.
Like taking notes in the meeting.
Or filing paperwork.
Or running an errand.
The key is to not look at them as mundane tasks, but as opportunities to show your skills.
The Small Tasks Lead to Bigger Jobs
HOW you perform the smallest and seemingly most unimportant task is what will get you asked to do more important work.
After all, if your supervisor can’t rely on you to get the Starbucks order right, how can he rely on you to meet with the client to discuss a new project?
“If you can’t do the smallest of task well, you won’t be asked to do the bigger jobs.”
These small tasks are small tests of your abilities … whether you or your supervisor even realize it.
Correctly performed small tasks will build upon each other until one day, you are asked to do a task that is not so small.
How to Approach the Small Tasks
Every time you are asked to do a task that you believe is meaningless, here’s how to approach it to demonstrate your account management skills.
1. Follow instructions
Listen carefully to the instructions and make sure you follow directions. These are critical skills in account management and it’s your opportunity to show that you’ve got what it takes.
2. Ask questions
If you don’t understand something, or if the instructions were not clear, be sure to ask for clarification. It is far better to ask questions than to do the wrong thing. Your supervisor will appreciate your proactivity to ensure you do a good job.
3. Show enthusiasm
You’ve got to demonstrate a good attitude and willingness to do whatever is asked of you. By now you know that Account Management is not as glamorous as it seems. You’ve got to be willing to do whatever is necessary for the team and the client. And by showing enthusiasm, you demonstrate your dedication to both the team and the client.
4. Do it with expediency
Be prompt with the task. Don’t drag it out or procrastinate. The agency business moves fast and is deadline oriented. Show that you recognize the importance of getting your work done in a timely manner.
5. Get it right
Don’t mess it up! Do whatever you have to do to ensure that you do the job well.
(By the way, this is the same way to approach the not-so-small tasks too.)
Once you’ve shown you can be relied upon for the smallest of tasks, you will be tested with more important tasks and then even more important tasks.
And before you know it, you’ll be the one asking someone else to make the Starbucks run.
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