Working Beyond Your 'PAY GRADE'

Working Beyond Your 'PAY GRADE'

Does this scenario look familiar:  your boss asked someone to temporarily work on something because another colleague is not available for whatever reason.  And what was the familiar refrain ?  I'm sorry that's BEYOND MY PAY GRADE, whew !  Share with you how I reacted when I witnessed those tit-for-tat quite many times in the past.  I hated as much as I sympathized that person.  WHY?  He blew off that opportunity being given to him on a platter.  In two shortest words, that was LOST OPPORTUNITY for him. 

Turn things upside down.  If you were jobless, would you have turned down that request for help ?  Surely NOT, right ?  But it's downright pitiful how shortsighted someone can be to turn down a request from your boss.  BTW, you're not in a retail store where you need to weigh in every gram of it.  Think about it.  Face your mirror all over and ask yourself.  Would you rather remain stalled now in your current job role till the sun sets at your horizon ?  Or are still nursing hopes [a.k.a. ambitions] for you to go up the corporate ladder ?  If it is the latter, rethink your thoughts so you can have the best decision ever.

On the other hand, have we seen how humans reacted when a coworker does go above their paygrade ?  Does ENVY prevail ?  Does jealousy surface till it leads to resentment ?  Problem is, things go south when we start comparing ourselves with our coworkers.  It's just a no-no.   We gotta realize that we all live and co-exist based on our own merits, not just because our coworker have taken that extra mile which simply impressed the bosses.

As it is in any option in life, there are always Pros and Cons for working beyond our PAY GRADE.  Let's start with the Cons.  Working beyond your PAY GRADE may eventually demotivate you if ever you expected to reap dividends so soon.  Again, this is more setting expectations, aligning with reality.

Whatever your expectations though, are many more upsides of taking that 'Xtra Mile'.  As it is, you will be in a Win-Win situation because there's just nothing to lose here.  Plain and simple, you're 'INVESTING' and putting something at stake for a future thing which is not guaranteed though.  My sane advice, working beyond your PAY GRADE should be embedded within yourself because eventually, you will reap the fruits of the seeds you have been sowing.  Word of caution:  do temper expectations.  Optimism is fine but it has to be tempered.✅✅✅