How to Cover Your Butt at Work - MadameNoire

Know who you work for

What kind of boss do you have? Someone who is diligent and fair? Or lazy and looks for others to blame? It’s important to know who you work for so you (hopefully) won’t be too surprised if they were to ever come out the gate acting crazy. Pay attention to their work ethic and behavior as it can often reflect how they react if and when their backs are ever against the wall.

Keep a paper trail

One of the best ways to cover your butt on the job is to have things in writing. This will stop people in their tracks who often think a conversation went one way when it actually didn’t. Sure there will be times when you are passing by someone in the office and have to discuss things in person, but do your best to try and get it in writing. One way to do this is by following up with your business colleague or boss with a “Hey, I just wanted to touch base on what we discussed” email. Not only will it help to demystify their opinions or expectations but ensure nothing gets lost in translation.

Save important documents

You would be surprised how many people glance at an email and delete it… permanently. Do be sure to set up mailbox folders for projects and any special tasks where you can store emails for future use. There’s nothing like knowing someone said something without having the proof to back it up. The same goes for important paper documents. Scan them onto your computer, if need be.

Take notes

Hey nobody is perfect and sometimes we forget things. It happens. If you start to notice things falling through the cracks, take notes to refresh your memory. This is a great way to stay on top of assigned and last-minute tasks as well as keep a visual in front of you (hopefully your desk isn’t too messy). Be sure to jot down the date and time along with the note so you follow up in a timely manner.

Set deadlines

Another way to make sure you stay on top of your work is by setting a few deadlines. If you know you are going to have a hectic schedule, set deadlines in your planner for projects or tasks you need to complete. This will also come in handy for days out of the office and even vacation. One easy way to do this is by utilizing a mailbox calendar where you can set a reminder to make sure things get done.

Keep records

There may come a time when you need to have a sit-down regarding a workplace issue with a co-worker or boss. Should this be the case, make sure you have the necessary evidence to back up your claim. This in no way means you should be malicious about “collecting evidence,” but rather have a record of interactions that can support you if and when the time comes.

This also includes keeping records on yourself so there can be no question about your involvement with a project and/or how hard you have been working.

Use secured documents

This may be a bit extreme for some, but using secured documents like Microsoft Word and Excel (be sure to turn on this setting) definitely helps to cover your butt in extreme office situations, and especially if you are working on a team. For starters, they track all of the edits and the people who made them. This will create a traceable log of everyone involved. So if you were the original author but not the one who created the final outcome, it will be evident.

Don’t let problems linger

As mentioned before, no one is perfect and things can happen. If a problem arises, tackle it sooner rather than later. The worst thing you can do is push it off to the side only to have it turn into something bigger than it needs to be. In this case “covering your butt” could turn into a huge problem. Just own up to any mistakes on your part and work hard, whether on your own or with another, to resolve it as soon as possible.

Have witnesses at meetings

Can I get a witness?

If you know you work in an environment where people are either forgetful or vindictive, consider bringing in one or two extra people into your meeting. Just make sure they have a purpose being there and aren’t random. Having extra people at the meeting will help make sure the lines of communication are understood, preventing a “he said, she said” situation.

Be diligent

Whether in life or the office, make sure you are diligent in everything you do as this helps to build a great professional reputation, which can work for you in the long run. If people know you are about your business and good at it, they will be less likely to doubt your abilities. You become known to deliver good results, which gives you the benefit of the doubt.