Work and Life Free of Lanes

Over the years I’ve heard the phrase “stay in your lane” a few times. The first time was as I first sitting in the driver’s seat of my dad’s truck as he was teaching me to drive. More recently, I’ve heard it said when I’ve taught my daughters to drive … and in the workplace. That’s right … the workplace.

Growing up in a small farming community in north central Indiana, one of the things I fondly remember was driving on the “back roads.” For my city kids friends, back roads aren’t very wide and often require one or both of the vehicles coming from opposite directions to go to the extreme edge of the road in order to pass. Add an over-sized piece of farm equipment driving down the middle of the road, and it was an accident waiting to happen. However, accidents were few and far between, but that’s an entirely different subject.

People “just driving through” didn’t typically drive down the back roads; those roads were for locals. Unlike interstates or state highways, those back roads were free of “lanes” — no yellow or white lines down the middle or on the edge. I can still visualize late evening drives in my dad’s pickup driving at 55 mph right down the middle of the road. Everyone did. And there was something about it that was freeing.

Over the years, I’ve learned that some view the workplace as having lanes as well. I’ve been told more than once … “stay in your lane.” I’ve grown to discover that some workplace culture’s highly value the notion of lanes while others … not so much. Some value those that are able to see outside the boundaries of “lanes” while others are threatened by those that don’t.

It’s often those that don’t see the clear lines that are equipped for the next opportunity that comes their way. We wait for permission or a promotion before we’re willing to do the work. Leaders, on the other hand, do the job long before it’s their job or they have the title. They don’t see the lanes.

If you’re looking to grow your career and gain more experience it’s likely that you’ll need to view your work outside the boundary of your current workplace lane. Here are a few things to consider.

Approach your work with the “I’ll do whatever it takes” attitude.

Successful people NEVER say “that’s not my job.” Not only do they not say it, it doesn’t even enter their minds. They understand that they are there to work hard and give their best work to the organization without expectations. It’s these type of people that are noticed when the next opportunity arises.

Do the work for the job you want to do not for the job you currently have.

Make sure you’re killing it at the job you were hired for … and then look for more. Look for ways to serve your leader. Look for ways to take your current job to the next level. Raise the bar for others around you. Raise your hand and ask for additional projects. And when appropriate, just step up and do what needs to be done.

Do the work without the expectation of being recognized.

We all know people who are stepping up and doing more with the main and only objective of moving up the ladder. It’s easy to identify those individuals because they’re leading and working with different motives. Those that work from the stance of truly helping others and the organization are incredible assets to the organization that they serve. It’s not wrong to aspire for more; it’s just wrong to do your work with that as your only motivation. That motivation is self serving and not serving of others.

One of my favorite things when visiting the family farm in Indiana is driving down the middle of the road — free of any lanes. Approaching my work as if I’m not tied to lane has been equally as freeing. I encourage you to open your eyes for the possibilities all around you without being locked into the white and yellow lines that give the appearance of constraint.

Questions to Consider:

Do you view your role as having lanes?

Are you looking for opportunities to “raise your hand” for something that isn’t necessarily your job?

Are you aspiring to more while serving the organization and leaders around you?