EXCERPT:
"If I could pass on one piece of advice to beginning scientists it would
be this: Don't be afraid to take on tasks that are not part of your
official job description even if, at least initially, it appears you
won't get credit for the effort."
LOOK BEYOND YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION - YOU WILL BE SURPRISED AT WHAT YOU
FIND
Richard Reis (Stanford U.)
If I could pass on one piece of advice to beginning scientists it would
be this: Don't be afraid to take on tasks that are not part of your
official job description even if, at least initially, it appears you
won't get credit for the effort. Of course it is important to focus your
efforts on specific goals, particularly in the early stages of your
career. But if you don't also develop peripheral vision you may miss
important opportunities, including those that can help you with your
primary responsibilities.
For example, early in my university career I was asked by my department
head to chair the research seminar committee. In truth, the committee
had long since ceased to function and no one wanted to take on the task
of running it. I had been warned about accepting too many committee
duties as a beginning professor, yet, I said yes anyway. I was given a
free hand and a small budget to do whatever I wanted. It was not a lot
of work and what I did was certainly not very original, nevertheless, my
efforts resulted in three significant benefits to me:
1.They brought me in contact with interesting people in my department,
my university, and beyond.
2.They created an association in the minds of my colleagues between me
and research in general, a real plus for any young professor.
3.They allowed me to put into practice the old adage: "It is easier to
say NO to something you don't want to do if you have already said YES to
something you do want to do." In other words, after taking over the
seminar committee, I was better able to deflect requests to take on
other tasks that I didn't have the time or interest in doing.
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This appeared on the Stanford University based tomorrows-professor list
and reprinted with permission.