An employee followed their manager’s demand for unquestioning obedience until a missed error exposed the problem with simply doing “as you’re told”. 

How many of us have had a superior utter this same phrase, “just follow instructions” or “just do as you’re told”? When this happens, when should you keep pushing and continue to contribute above your pay grade? And when should you take a step back?

The irony is that, more often than not, the same employees that are told not to think and to “just do their jobs” are really the ones making all the decisions. Even if their bosses don’t know it. It’s their work, their thinking, their effort that is keeping the place ticking over.