Theory
When an employee does more than what is being asked to do, he or she is said to
have walked the extra mile. It is now being considered as an HR parameter and
considered as a positive sign, signifying that he or she is an engaged employee.
The can do and will do attitude exhibited by these employees can become handy
for the organization as they can be counted and trusted. They turn out to be the
frontline warriors of the organization when difficulties crop up, even if it is
beyond their roles, KRAs and KPIs.
How can one walk the extra mile at work?
1. Be willing
2. Be helpful
3. Volunteer in your strong domain.
4. Keep service as a value
5. Take responsibilities
6. Get involved
7. Keep the purpose bigger than you.
8. Do sacrifice something.
The employee who goes an extra mile truly exhibit leadership traits and are a
source of inspiration for many. They are seen as people with strength of character
and are held in high respect.
Story
It was well past midnight at Crystal Heights Corporate tower; a glass building that
sparkled by day and slept in silence by night. Most employees had left hours ago.
The lights were dim, the corridors empty, except for one small figure, walking
slowly with a flashlight. Raman, the night security guard, had been working there
for eight years. He wasn’t noticed much. Every morning, employees greeted him
with half-smiles, rushing past to elevators and meetings. Yet, he never missed a
greeting back. His voice was always warm, his posture straight, his eyes alert.
One monsoon evening, as thunder rumbled outside, a young intern named Anjali
stayed back late to finish an urgent report. She was nervous, as it was her first
project presentation, and her boss had high expectations. By the time she packed
up, the last bus had left. The rain was relentless. She sat in the lobby, feeling
anxious and defeated.
That’s when Raman appeared, holding two cups of hot tea.“You’ve been working
hard,” he said gently, “thought this might help.”Surprised, she smiled and
accepted the tea. “Thank you, sir. You must be tired too.”He chuckled. “No one
calls me ‘sir,’ miss. I’m just doing my part. But tell me, why so late?”She sighed.
“It’s my first big task. I’m scared I’ll mess it up.”Raman nodded thoughtfully. “I
don’t know much about reports and presentations. But I do know this, even small
efforts done with sincerity leave big marks.”Something in his words lingered.
The next morning, as Anjali reached office early, she noticed something
remarkable, the power was back on, the printer worked perfectly, and the floor
was spotless despite the storm.Later she learned that the night before, after she
left, a power line had short-circuited. The security system went down. While most
would have called it a night, Raman stayed back in the rain, called the technicians,
guided them through repairs, and even mopped the flooded lobby himself, just so
that the office would open on time and no one’s work would be delayed.
When her manager heard the story, he was speechless. That day, Raman’s name
was announced in the company meeting. The CEO said, “This building has lights
and locks because of systems, but it has heart because of people like
Raman.”Raman smiled shyly, his hands folded. “I just do what’s needed,” he said
quietly.
After that day, employees stopped rushing past him. They greeted him with
warmth, shared tea, and sometimes even advice. But more than that, they began
noticing the little extra things everyone did. Anjali often said later, “That night, I
learned something precious. Going the extra mile isn’t about recognition, it’s
about responsibility.”
Learning
The extra mile is never crowded, because it’s walked not by talent, but by heart.
Great work is not always born of brilliance; it’s born of people who care just a
little more, stay a little longer, and try a little harder. In every workplace, there
are unseen heroes, the ones who keep the light on when others go home, who fix
quietly what others overlook. And perhaps, true professionalism isn’t just about
doing your duty; it’s about finding joy in doing that little bit more.
Activity
Write down an instance wherein you have walked the extra mile at your work
place. How did it make you feel?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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Quote
“There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.”– Roger Staubach
Takeaways
1. When an employee goes above and beyond his job description in his
performance at work, he is said to have walked the extra mile.
2. By taking up the 8 point strategy, we too as employees can walk the extra
mile at our work place.