Make your work more useful.

Go slightly beyond the initial request.

Following instructions is important, but may be seen as doing the bare minimum because it gives people the impression that you don’t understand how your work fits into the bigger picture. Move beyond just finishing an assignment to actually improving it for the person receiving it.

Small, thoughtful additions signal a high level of work ethic and show that you’re thinking about the project’s success, not just your own workload. Before you turn in any piece of work, ask yourself: “What’s one small thing I can add to this to make it more useful?” If you’re sending over a data spreadsheet, it might be adding a three-bullet summary of the most important trends you noticed. If you’re setting up a meeting, it could be sending out a clear agenda 24 hours in advance.

Focusing on the “why” behind your work helps you develop critical thinking and prioritize your time more effectively. When you understand how a small task supports a larger company goal, you can make better decisions about where to put the most effort. Over time, your colleagues will start coming to you with more important projects because they know your completed work is layered with quality that makes everyone’s job easier.

Put these approaches into practice.

Let’s look at practical ways to add small, thoughtful details that make your work more useful for the person receiving it.