This story is intentionally simplified to illustrate a key theme: the impact we can have by focusing on responsibility, control, and improving processes. Even though the roles and situations might not perfectly match what you're dealing with, the ideas are relevant to almost any workplace. The lesson here is to focus on what you’re responsible for, influence what you can, and not get stuck on things outside your control.
As you go through the story, think about how the themes connect to your own experience. Sometimes, improving communication, stepping up where you can, and keeping things in your lane can solve problems that seem bigger than they are. The goal isn’t to recreate the story in your exact situation but to pull out lessons that can help you work more efficiently and make a difference where it counts.
Setting the Mindset Before Reading: Some Key Questions
To get the most out of this, keep these questions in mind as you go through the story. They’ll help you focus on the lessons and think about how they apply to your own work:
How does Alex’s role as the delivery driver show the importance of focusing on what you can control?
Think about how you might take on tasks outside your role, and why it’s important to avoid that.
How does Alex influence the process by raising issues with John, the plant manager?
As you read, reflect on how influence isn’t about control—it’s about addressing problems with the right people to get things back on track.
What happens when Alex does work that doesn’t belong to her?
Consider how doing extra work that belongs to others can create inefficiency and impact the larger process.
What is John responsible for, and how does fulfilling his role affect the success of the team?
This helps frame the bigger picture: how each person’s accountability can support the whole process.
What steps could everyone take to ensure responsibilities are clear and there’s no unnecessary overlap?
Keep this in mind as you think about how responsibilities can be streamlined and how that might apply to your own work environment.
These questions will set you up to focus on the core themes of control, influence, and accountability as you go through the story.
The Story: A Lesson in Responsibility and Influence
At the manufacturing plant, everything seemed to be working well. Packages were prepared, labeled, and loaded onto trucks. The drivers, like Alex, had one simple task: follow the route and deliver the packages. But it didn’t take long for Alex to realize something wasn’t right.
Every day, before heading out, Alex found herself double-checking the packages. Were the labels correct? Was the address right? Were the packages packed properly, or did something get missed? She even went as far as unpacking and repacking items just to be sure the customer would get what they ordered. It became part of her routine.
At first, Alex thought she was just being thorough, but over time, she started wondering: why was this her job? Shouldn't these things have been handled before the packages reached him? The plant manager, John, and his team were responsible for everything before the packages left the warehouse. His team picked, packed, and labeled the orders. They even created the routes for delivery.
So why was Alex stuck fixing mistakes? It wasn’t that she didn’t care—she wanted to ensure the customer got what they needed—but it wasn’t supposed to be part of her job. The responsibility was shifting from John’s team to the drivers, and it was slowing everything down.
That’s when Alex decided to speak up. She didn’t place blame, but he pointed out the cracks in the process. “I’m spending too much time checking every package,” Alex said. “I shouldn’t have to fix mistakes before I even start my route.”
John took a moment to reflect. Alex was right. John’s team had all the resources and personnel to ensure the packages were packed and labeled correctly. If Alex had to step in and fix something, that meant John’s team had missed something. It wasn’t about whether the drivers were doing a good job—it was about the system not supporting them to do their job efficiently.
John realized they needed to revisit what "good" looked like. Instead of expecting drivers like Alex to handle tasks that weren’t theirs, John needed to focus on making sure each part of the process was done right before it reached the delivery stage. So, he made changes to ensure the packing, labeling, and loading steps were done correctly, and that drivers could focus on delivering without unnecessary delays.
As a result, things started to improve. Alex no longer had to double-check or fix the packages, and the whole process ran more smoothly. What Alex did—speaking up and addressing the problem at the right time—had a major impact on the entire system. It showed that even when you’re not the person in charge, you can still influence change by taking responsibility where it counts.
Key Takeaways from the Story
Focus on your role: When everyone sticks to their responsibilities, the system runs more smoothly. Taking on someone else’s work can cause inefficiencies and burnout.
Collaboration leads to efficiency: By addressing problems early and working together, every step of the process improves.
Influence where you can: Even if you’re not in charge, you can still influence positive change by communicating issues and helping solve problems.
Ownership matters: Taking ownership of your work and knowing when to speak up can make a big impact, no matter your role.
Refining processes: Revisiting and improving processes regularly keeps the system running efficiently.
Team empowerment: Empowering each person to focus on their strengths and core responsibilities prevents overlap and keeps things moving forward.
Applying the Concept of Control, Influence, and Letting Go
The story ties directly into the mindset of focusing on what you can control, influencing where you can, and letting go of what’s outside your control. Here’s how it connects:
Control what you can: Alex realized that constantly fixing packages wasn’t her responsibility. She focused on doing her actual job—delivering packages.
Influence what you can: When Alex saw that the system was flawed, she didn’t try to fix everything herself. Instead, she raised the issue with John, the person who could make the necessary changes.
Let go of what’s outside your control: Once Alex brought the problem to John, she let go of trying to fix the issues herself and trusted that John’s team would address them. This shows the importance of not trying to control things that aren’t in your power.
In the end, it’s about focusing your energy where you can make a difference. By controlling what’s in front of you, influencing when necessary, and letting go of things that are outside your reach, you can avoid unnecessary frustration and have a positive impact on the bigger picture.
Final Thought: Balancing Multiple Responsibilities
Sometimes, you might have more than one job or role in the same team. It’s important not to blur the lines between those responsibilities. For example, imagine if Alex also worked in the plant and did a poor job packing, knowing she could fix it later when delivering. This would only create inefficiencies and hurt the overall process.
The point here is that everyone has a responsibility to ensure the process works as it should, and that means sticking to your job and not creating more work for yourself or others. When duties are clear and everyone plays their part, the team can function better as a whole.
Let’s Chat: What Do You Think?
Take a second to think about these:
Ever done something at work that felt like grunt work but ended up helping the team in a big way? Tell me about a time when doing the “boring stuff” actually paid off!
Have you ever seen someone casually suggest a change that made everything run smoother? How did that little nudge make a difference?
Can you think of a time when someone took on way more work because the stuff they got was a mess? How’d that go for them—and the rest of the team?
What about a time when someone made a suggestion that sounded kinda silly, but ended up working wonders? What did that teach you about speaking up?
Ever watched someone spin their wheels over something they couldn’t really control? How much energy did they waste, and how could they have shifted their focus instead?
These are all real-life moments that might’ve flown under the radar. Reflect on times when you, or someone else, made a small move that ended up making a big difference. What can you carry forward into your work now?