By Mike Klockenbrink
It’s been two years since you were hired and your job has evolved. The original job description you were given no longer fits the job you’re doing. This raises several questions that need to be addressed. How can you be properly evaluated on your job performance if you’re not doing what your job description dictates? How did this happen?
I can tell you that it doesn’t happen overnight, but gradually over a period of time. We are in the process of evaluating all of our current job descriptions. Many of them are up to date and truly reflect the job description with the performance expectations. Several are outdated and need a lot of work.
Almost everyone likes the current role they’re in and the job they have. Of course they do. It’s changed or evolved over a period of time and they’ve had time to grow into it. The question is does it match their job description? We end up doing things we like to do or have a passion for. But these things may or may not have anything to do with the job we were hired for. If this goes on long enough, we start to believe that this is our job. It may or may not be.
On several occasions I’ve had to ask employees why they are doing a particular task. The answer is usually the same – it’s my job. I don’t ever remember this being a part of their job description when they were hired. Again, over time it has crept in and becomes a part of our routine.
As I reevaluate and update current job descriptions, I ask several questions. Does this change reflect the need for that position or department? Are we doing this because the employee has outgrown the position? Do we still have a need for the current job?
Sometimes we need to take tasks or responsibilities off of someone’s plate to be in line with their job description, while others need to actually have their job description changed. In order to succeed, people need to know what’s expected of them. An up-to-date job description can help to accomplish this. I recommend that you review your job descriptions every other year at a minimum. Even if it’s not your job.
Mike Klockenbrink is chief of staff at Lakeside Church, Folsom, CA. www.lakesidechurch.com
