Salesperson 101: Not My Job

Not my job. The three most hated words by employers because they say so much. If you’re that person who has uttered those words once or twice, then stay tuned and find out just what your employer, or manager, thinks when they hear it.

I’m not sure why I find that particular phrase such a trigger but when I hear it, no matter how you phrase it, it tells me everything I need to know about the person saying it. Okay, to be clear, I’m not talking about when the guy with the gunshot wound to his head asks the janitor at the hospital to do brain surgery, and the janitor explains that it’s not his or her area of expertise. I’m talking about when someone asks that same janitor at the same hospital to show them directions to a department and the janitor shrugs and says, “I don’t know,” instead of finding a way to be helpful. You can say “it’s not my job” in so many ways. “I don’t get paid to do that.” “That’s not my responsibility.” “My shift is over.” However you say it, it screams one thing: “I don’t care.”

You should be aware that sending any message to the employer that smells like “not my job” translate to “I don’t care”.

The thing is that there is a much deeper issue going on. “Not my job” translates into an us against them mentality. I’ve seen that with many staff over the years. The overwhelming sense that somehow the employer is trying to take advantage of the employee, so the employee has to take the overly protective or reactive position of staking their ground. Defending their rights. First of all, if you think you work for an employer that doesn’t care about you, then have at it. Stake your ground until you can move on. No criticism here. But if you like your job and generally like the employer and your position, then you should be aware that sending any message to the employer that even smells like, “not my job” or “I don’t get paid for that” translates to “I don’t care”.

It also translates to “I don’t want that promotion” and “I certainly don’t want that raise” and of course my personal favorite, “maybe fire me the next time the opportunity arises!”

A lot of people just seem to have this fear that someone is taking advantage of them.

The thing is, a lot of people don’t even realize that is how they are acting, or those are the messages they are sending. They just seem to have this fear that someone is taking advantage of them, but it’s a terrible message to send.

The next time a promotion opportunity comes along, and you get passed over, you should ask why. You may be surprised by the answer. When you ask for a raise and your employer says no, maybe think about what that means, because that may be their way of saying, “please leave.” If that happens you should ask yourself if you’re that person. Staking your ground. Setting limits on what you will do. Not valuing the relationship with the employer.

The funny thing is, I’ve worked with a ton of people over the years that feel somehow, they need to make it clear what they will and won’t do, what they “think” their job is, and what rights they have, which of course they do have. The one thing that’s often forgotten is that the employer has rights too, specifically the right not to employ you. Good luck and good selling!