What if I don't make it in tomorrow?

Most of us go to work, day after day, never thinking about not being there. We really don't give much thought to what happens when we aren't in the office; after all, if we are ill or on vacation, we'll be back in a few days.

What happens if we don't make it back in for an extended period of time? What happens if we just don't come back?

For most of us, it's not a problem. Our job will be there, whether or not we occupy that cubicle. If the company needs a person to fill out the form or type in the details of purchase orders; someone else can probably be identified to fulfill the task, should anything happen to us.

Now, if you're the manager, the question of whether or not an employee shows up on Monday morning is important; the manager is still going to have to deliver the work. It's times like this that documenting all aspects of an employee's tasks becomes very important. And there is the fall down; for most of us, the job is documented in the body of an HR job description, maybe a page in length. Detailed task documentation and procedures are found in the book that came with the software.

I'm suggesting there are 3 reasons for well written job descriptions:
1) The job is well defined. The employees will know what is expected of them. The documentation provides a tool by which their performance is measured. When the description is written (and annually reviewed) the manager knows the job and how it fits within the organization.

2) Your job is well defined. A manager is there to lead the team and the manager is only as good as the poorest performer on the team. Your boss will gauge your performance by your team's ability to get the job done. If you are confident that your team knows how to perform and does it well, you look good.

3) Finally, you answer to someone, whether it be a manager at a level above you or maybe to an executive. You should have a clear understanding of your position and it should be documented in detail.

Simple as that.

Good procedures will carry the day in the event someone on the team doesn't make it back in. This includes you, the manager.
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