Thoroughness

  • Demonstrates attention to detail and accuracy
  • Defines and organizes tasks, responsibilities, and priorities
  • Takes responsibility for timely completion
Proficiency Levels – What it looks like
Being Developed
(BD)		 Basic
(B)		 Intermediate
(I)		 Advanced
(A)		 Expert
(E)
Applies attention to detail to routine tasks defined in formal, written procedures and oral instructions Performs tasks according to quality and output standards Demonstrates operational agility Identifies potential areas of conflicting priorities and vulnerability in achieving standards Sets the vision, defines the value, and acts as role model for creating a culture that sets superior standards and delivers on time and on budget
Seeks guidance on the quality and the degree of completion required for completing new tasks Takes initiative to ensure that outcomes meet internal and external customer requirements Uses organizational systems that result in multiple critical activities to be identified and completed on time Reviews department’s progress against established goals, objectives, service level targets, and project milestones Agrees upon service level and project expectations with senior leaders
Reprioritizes as new deadlines are set. Responds constructively to customer feedback on task output Solicits feedback on performance in new tasks Renegotiates priorities as necessary Supports others in achieving deliverables by efficiently allocating resources and providing common organizing systems, techniques, and disciplines Reviews enterprise’s progress against established goals, objectives, service level targets, and project milestones
Measures accuracy using performance metrics Puts systems in place and uses them to monitor and detect errors and problems Maintains a proactive work review and approval process prior to assignment completion Devises strategies for delivering large-scale projects on time
Sets improvement standards to reduce errors, omissions, and oversights Tests and inspects outputs and applies quality checks prior to work submission Solicits internal and external customer evaluation of performance and devises measures for improvement Proactively conducts business review meetings for reprioritization of resources and taking corrective action to respond to strategic initiatives
Holds self and leadership team members accountable for achievements, publicly recognizing successes
Identifies areas of potential vulnerability in achieving strategic business drivers
Supports the enterprise in achieving deliverables by investing in world-class organizational processes

What it Doesn’t Look Like

  • Completing work without understanding expectations i.e. for scope, quality, or due date
  • Submitting work without verifying all requirements have been achieved
  • Rushing to complete work and not attending to details
  • Creating additional work for others as a result of leaving loose ends
  • Leaving out critical information or steps so others cannot follow work
  • Overlooking details that were attended to in the beginning (getting sloppy)

Questions to Consider

  • How do I know that I clearly and accurately understand what is expected?
  • What systematic approach am I using to verify my work has achieved the required criteria?
  • How can I improve my records maintenance so if someone else had to step in and take over my work they would be able to easily locate all the required files and determine where I have left off?
  • What and how can I learn about the thoroughness of my work from clients?
  • Am I letting things slide and making excuses for my work?

Learning and Development Activities

Choose one or two activities that support your preferred learning style

Select activities by learning style
Doing Listening Observing Training Reading

(By clicking on the symbol, those activities relating to the learning style will appear)

Doing

Suggestions for activities you can do on the job

Self

  • Create a system from performing a self-audit on your work. Are there certain areas you consistently score high in and others areas that require extra attention? How can you use this audit and findings to improve your work?
  • To-do lists are particularly helpful when you have a number of small items to keep track of. Create a prioritized to-do list to help stay on top of important projects as well as tasks and decisions. Not only will this help you remember all the items, it will help you focus on important jobs first (without wasting time on trivial tasks) and reduce stress.
  • Organize all your tasks into an urgent/important matrix. From there plan and prioritize your schedule.
  • Commit to sticking to a task an hour longer than you normally would and check your work more carefully.

With Peers

  • Establish a peer auditing process for reviewing each others work. It is amazing what a fresh set of eyes can see.
  • Share systems for ensuring timely completion of quality work. Discuss what sometimes gets in the way, and what strategies are used to overcome obstacles.

With your Manager/Team Lead

  • Take time to clarify expectations when a task or project is assigned. Establish check points or milestone reporting to receive feedback to ensure you are on track with expectations.
  • Review your work plan or to-do list to gain agreement on your priorities.
Listening and Observing

Here are some ideas that can be pursued on the job, with some coordination. Use these reflective questions to gain more from your learning experience:

    • What are three key things I have learned from this experience?
    • What will I do differently in my work as a result of this experience?
  • Identify someone who is conscientious: self-disciplined, careful with their work, high achieving, organized and detail as well as schedule oriented. Observe techniques and methods they use in their work. Ask what they think about when approaching their work.
  • When attending a meeting where participants have to provide status reports, notice who is thorough and who is not. What characteristics does each group exhibit? Imagine: What would the meeting be like if everyone was thorough? What would the meeting be like if everyone was not thorough?
Training Programs

UBC Training Programs offered through Organization Development and Learning

  • Introduction to Process Streamlining
  • Mind Mapping

For UBCO course offerings, please visit the Events page. http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/facultystaff/events.html

Consider working with a coach following training, to aid in anchoring your learning: http://www.hr.ubc.ca/coaching/

Reading

Choose to read one or two of the books listed below. Consider the reflective questions to enhance your learning:

  • What are the key points the author is making?
  • What are three key things I have learned from this reading?
  • What will I do differently in my work as a result of gaining this knowledge?

Staff, Managers/Team Leads

  • Getting Organized: Improving Focus, Organization and Productivity; (2004); C. Crouch; Dawson Publishing. Presents a collection of simple ideas that address at least six major issues that could be generating chaos and disorder in your life or the lives of your employees. Each idea is presented in a three-part format: the first section gives you information on the idea (What?), the second section tells you more about the idea and how it might affect you (So What?), and the third section gives you specific suggestions on how to put the idea to work (Now What?). As a reader, this makes your part simple…take a quick look at the idea, try the ideas you like, discard the ones you don’t.
  • Organizing for Success, Second Edition; (2010), K. Zeigler; McGraw Hill. Provides 24 proven tips, tools, and strategies that will help you analyze your use of time, root out inefficiencies, and change bad habits. Address the practical, realistic challenges inside and you’ll soon see measurable differences in your productivity. This constructive, high-speed guide offers all the information you’ll need to eliminate confusion and work more efficiently

Additional Questions

Please contact your Human Resources Representative with any additional questions.

Summary of Links

http://www.hr.ubc.ca/coaching/

http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/facultystaff/events.html