If you question most employees, they will tell you they think they are doing a good job and are working hard. If you ask their boss, the answer may be very different.

Obviously, this is a problem. Quite often the employees are not aware of the boss’s opinion about them. Although the employee’s performance review may have been satisfactory, the boss doesn’t always write or say what he really thinks.

Why the difference? In part, it is because of a misunderstanding about what is expected from the employee. Working hard is not necessarily the criteria by which we are evaluated. Look around you. Notice that some individuals don’t seem to be working very hard at all; yet they get more promotions and bigger raises than many others. Sometimes it is because of politics or nepotism. Other times it is because they achieve more. They come up with good ideas. Their results help the company make more money or eliminate problems.

Simply placing more orders or getting delivery of material that is requested is usually not enough to be viewed as exceptional. You must be a contributor to profits, you must eliminate problems, and improve operations.

Preventing price increases is good. Obtaining lower costs is better. If you are going to excel, you must do more than arrive on time, and look busy. You must take an active role in finding ways to reduce costs.