Your boss has piles of spreadsheets that he has asked you to take a look at.

Every company that is truly committed to continuous improvement has its decisions based in fact. That means loads of information. Another characteristic of those same organizations is that they try to empower and engage their employees. Sometimes, the combination of these two factors can make a person feel like he or she is in too deep.

Problem

Your boss has piles of spreadsheets that he has asked you to take a look at.

How this affects you

You have enough to do without the information overload that comes from reams of numbers. You might not even know where to start.

Action to Take

Get some specific guidance from your boss. A common mistake, especially in managers who are trying to get on top of a new role, is that they try to put every existing piece of data to use. Knowing exactly what your manager wants to find will help you focus your search and reassures you that your boss isn’t just “beating the bushes” to see what comes out. 

Why this works

The Why this Works section is only available in print copies of Whaddaya Mean I Gotta Be Lean?