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At Work
Lesson 3 of 5 · Doing Great Work6 min

Understanding and Finishing Tasks

Doing a task well starts with understanding it. Then you work through it step by step and check it before you say you're done. These habits make you a strong worker.

In this lesson

  • Make sure you understand a task before starting.
  • Work through tasks and check your work.

Before you start

  • Listen to or read the whole task first.
  • Repeat it back: 'So I need to… is that right?'
  • Ask what 'done' looks like.
  • Ask when it needs to be finished.

While you work

  • One step at a time. Break big tasks into smaller steps.

  • Use a checklist. Check off steps as you finish them.

  • Stay focused. Put your phone away and work through it.

Before you say you're done

Check your work against what was asked. Did you finish every step? If yes, tell your boss and ask what's next. Finishing well and asking for more shows you're a great worker.

Quick check

Try these to see what you remember. There are no grades — pick an answer to see how you did.

1. What's a good way to make sure you understand a task?

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