At Your First Job, Stop Waiting to Be Told What to Do
A former Stanford dean says managers want people who can work out the next step on their own.
Talks at Google · Julie Lythcott-Haims | Your Turn: How to Be an Adult | Talks at GoogleJulie Lythcott-Haims, a former Stanford dean who writes about becoming an adult, tells new hires to drop the idea that a boss will spell out every step. Managers do not have time for that, she says. They want people who can figure out, in Lythcott-Haims's words, "how to be useful and what to do next."
Her first tool is language. Drop the idea that you must already be good at everything and stick to safe tasks that prove it. Treat yourself as a beginner who can improve with effort, so a hard assignment becomes something you have not mastered yet rather than proof you cannot do it. That kinder wording makes it easier to attempt unfamiliar work.
Then move up in independence. She passes along advice from a Silicon Valley private equity man who describes what he calls "five stages of becoming progressively responsible and independent in the workplace."
One, sit and wait for assignments. Two, proactively seek out assignments. Three, spot a gap, work out a possible fix, and propose it. Four, handle the work and send a quick update to your boss or team. Five, handle the work and save it for a regular check-in.
The aim, in the private equity adviser's telling, is to shift from relying on directions to working on your own, without announcing every win. The first move up is simple. Instead of waiting, look for useful work to take on.
Questions people ask
How do I take initiative without overstepping or annoying my boss?
Start small, visible, and reversible. Ask what a good next task would be, clarify the deadline and what success looks like, then do that task fully before reaching for bigger decisions. Most managers welcome help that reduces their workload, not work that creates surprises.
What should I do if I take initiative and get it wrong?
Own it quickly, explain what you tried and what you learned, and propose a fix. Early career mistakes are normal, and managers generally judge new hires more on how they respond than on whether they are perfect. Document what you will do differently so the same error does not repeat.
How often should I check in if I am supposed to work independently?
Follow the rhythm your team already uses, whether that is a daily standup, a weekly one on one, or a project channel. Between check-ins, send brief updates only when something is blocked, due, or materially changed. Saving routine wins for the regular meeting is exactly what stage five describes.