Boss berates employee for taking 'too much initiative,' tells them to do less or they'll be punished: 'I was shocked. I thought I was helping the team.'

Growing up we are always told to go above and beyond. Coaches teachers and parents tell us to put in 110% effort and to always leave everything on the floor.  When we're kids playing Little League, we're told that if we don't "give it our all," we're not doing enough. In America, we're all conditioned from a young age to be overachievers. There is so much rhetoric about doing more than you are asked to, taking initiative, and being a self-starter. 

This remains true once we enter the workforce. We are given a job description, but with the implicit understanding that if the role requires it, we will go beyond that description in service of the company. We will take on other tasks where we see fit and help out coworkers when we can. This is generally expected at most jobs. We do what we're asked to do, plus a little bit more. 

Author image for JR Atkinson JR Atkinson
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