How Someone Else Would Do Your Job

I've very recently had a unique and great opportunity. We had a project come in at work on a short timeline and there was literally no person to work on it. So the president of the company did what any good president would do. Against everyone's recommendation and to some engineer's utter shock, he decided that he would begin the design process on the project until an engineer was available. The rest of us started looking for jobs, for we were sure we would all be out of work after the debacle was completed.

The truth is that I didn't give my boss enough credit. He has done an amazing job on the project. He has masterfully represented and protected his organization and provided excellent results for his client.

This whole experience gave me the chance to see how someone else would do my job given the chance. I was honestly humiliated and humbled by the way my boss handled the whole situation. He knew what everyone was saying and thinking, yet he did what he knew was right. There are a few things I can identify that I've learned so far:

1. Get as much outside advice as possible. My boss has elicited help from almost every person in my office. No one can possibly know everything. Someone else may have a perspective on a situation that you haven't considered.
2. Be absolutely forthcoming and outright with your client, no matter how much it hurts. Your customer needs to know when you make a mistake and more importantly, when they are making a mistake.
3. Make sure that your client acknowledges their own mistakes... in writing. Some people say this is "covering your ---". I say it is good business.
4. Never underestimate your superiors. They are where they are for a reason.