The Report is Not the Work

The map
is not
the territory.

– Alfred Korzybski

Some employees are too free,
and so have ample time to write reports of their work.
Some employers are superficial,
to assume many timely reports
mean much good work done.
The report is not the work.

Some employees are too busy,
and so have little time to write reports of their work.
Some employers are discerning,
to know many late reports
mean much good work done.
The work is not the report.

3 thoughts on “The Report is Not the Work

  1. I agree very much with the above, as it applies to every aspect of life, not just at the workplace.

    However, in reality, not many employers are that discerning and not many employees have the good fortune to have employers who truly understand that ‘the work is not the report’.

  2. Try to have feedback sessions with the employer. May not be a report but at least let them know what is happening and what has been done. Employers appreciate that (mostly), even more important if the staff is overwhelmed by the job. Do not wait till a nervous breakdown or a re-structuring to lose a job completely! 😥

  3. Sometimes, poor middle mgmt don’t bother about feedback. They just wanna pass reports to higher mgmt, to be seen doing ‘work’. And when there is direct feedback to upper mgmt from staff, the middle mgmt get into trouble, and is likely to give the staff trouble.

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