There are 2 ways to categorize work:
- cognitive or manual
- repetitive or non-repetitive.
4 Kinds of Work
There are basically 4 kinds of work:
- Manual repetitive – Assembly line factory worker, farm labourer
- Cognitive repetitive – Call center operative, Bank teller
- Manual non-repetitive – Jewellery maker, Custom car builder
- Cognitive non-repetitive – Project manager, Sales of large complex systems
Generally speaking, repetitive manual work requires the least self-management and is the lowest paying, and cognitive non-repetitive work requires the most self-management and is the highest paying.
Are you good at Self-Management?
“We must manage ourselves, and help others manage themselves” Peter Drucker
Peter Drucker wrote an article called Managing Oneself that is still the best summary of Self-Management. As a summary, you need to be answering these 6 questions:
- What are my strengths? Feedback is the only way to find out. Do you have a systematic process for getting feedback on your behaviours?
- How do I perform? How do I learn best? Don’t struggle with modes that don’t work for you. (on Mastery)
- What are my values? “What kind of person do I want to see in the mirror in the morning?”
- Where do I belong? Mathematicians, musicians and cooks are mathematicians, musicians and cooks by the time they are 4 or 5 years old. Successful careers are not planned, they happen when people are prepared and positioned for opportunities that suit them. Knowing where one belongs can transform an ordinary person into an outstanding performer.
- What should I contribute? Given my strengths, methods and values: what is the great contribution to what needs to be done? Don’t look too far ahead – 18 months is the range of good planning. Define courses of action: what to do, where and how to start, what goals, objectives and deadlines to set.
- Who can I work well with? Adapt to what makes those around you successful. Adapting to what makes your boss most effective is the secret of managing up. Take responsibility for communicating how you are performing; take responsibility for building trust