Your role where you work is to complete your tasks to your highest capabilities. It’s typical that we stretch a bit, perhaps to 110%, since we figure out some things as we go along. What this means is that you make sure your supervisor doesn’t need to catch things that you should have done. What they should assist you with are the things that are outside of your capabilities, but fall within theirs. They then do the same as your work makes its way up to being reviewed by whoever is at the top of the food chain.

You’re not alone though. No need to be afraid that your sleep-deprived mind will miss things that you should have caught. That’s why we have co-workers.

I encourage people to engage with staff members who are at their level, or slightly below/above. Having someone with similar experience review your drawings allows them to assist you with new knowledge appropriate to your level, and catch the errors that shouldn’t make their way up the food chain. As a reminder, some of your peers are actually computers: spell check! When peer to peer is used properly, it’s a great way to share knowledge and to build confidence. It’s pretty awesome when someone comes to you for assistance and you can help them out. When they reciprocate, it’s also great.

When you do this, make sure your supervisor knows you did it. You’re reinforcing a company’s quality assurance/quality assurance (QA/QC) program by doing this. They can also provide guidance and advice to you that might help you best access this knowledge. It will also reinforce the fact that you understand your role within an atmosphere of active mentoring and knowledge acquisition.

QA/QC? That’s worthy of another post, but it’s good to understand the basic role of QA/QC:

• Ensure that the firm has a process in place that maximizes correct review by the correct person at the correct time.
• Ensure that the quality of work that reaches the client has no errors that THEY would catch. (ex. spelling mistakes, sloppy drawing, etc…)
• Ensure that the content of the work meets your firm’s best management practices. (ex. you don’t forget to include snow storage)
• Ensure that the work meets health, safety and welfare standards. (ex. proper handrail design)

Basically… a QA/QC process ensures that anyone who reviews the project (from concept to construction) gets to focus on the skill that they have and no one else does. Contractor’s are super happy when they can focus on building, and not trying to understand what they’re trying to build.

So… if you have enough people in your firm, look sideways for your first level of mentoring. This will build your skills, and help you identify the best way to engage with those above you to best gain their knowledge.

(*please note that I use the word “error” very intentionally. An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it. Errors are a part of learning. Mistakes happen when a learning opportunity is missed.)