Should you always do what your boss asks? Of course, you need to set aside all requests that cross over legal, ethical, and moral lines. But what about the rest of what the boss asked for?

I contend that you don’t need to do what your boss asks you to do.

Let me illustrate with a story. I’m sure that many of you, like me, have endured an all-day large-group training session where part way through the day the facilitators ask everyone to get up, gather their things, and move to another table.

I don’t move. I never move when they tell us to shuffle.

At one of these trainings a colleague gave me a hard time for not moving so I explained my philosophy: I was giving the facilitator what they needed, not what they asked for.

The facilitator wanted us to sit with new people so we could build new relationships and cross-pollinate – which I agree is a great goal! But, while I stayed in the same place, everyone else moved around me, and the goal was accomplished – I was sitting at a table with all new people. And, I accomplished it with minimal disruption and effort. Again, here is the key: I gave the facilitators what they needed, not what they asked for.

Of course, you need to be confident that you can see beyond your boss’ narrow request to their broader goal. But if you have converged with them, either because you’ve worked so long together or have the type of healthy communication where you have clear boundaries and can question them, then you can focus on the broad goal, not the narrow request.

When you focus on what is really needed then you will have less iteration and more focus – productivity will go up and you’ll get brownie points for helping the boss achieve their true goals, faster than they expected!

So… don’t give your boss what they ask for, give them what they need!