The best professionals are those who go above and beyond of what is expected of them and strive to exceed expectations. They anticipate needs even before they are explicitly stated. A great example of this is portrayed in the movie The Devil Wears Prada, where Meryl Streep plays a formidable businesswoman running New York’s top fashion magazine. One memorable takeaway from the film is how her assistant eventually earns her trust and admiration. Why? Because she wasn’t just fulfilling her tasks; she consistently went above and beyond. For instance, she not only managed to secure a pre-production copy of a Harry Potter book but also printed two copies for her boss’s children and ensured they were delivered to them before their trip.
This scene perfectly illustrates the value of anticipating and exceeding expectations.
Recently, I had the privilege of working with a brilliant individual— a Scrum Master on my team—who exemplified this very trait. During a discussion, I was pleasantly surprised to hear her say, “Ana, this is already done and prepared.” Her foresight and proactive approach caught me off guard but left a lasting impression.
This kind of attitude is something I deeply admire and aspire to cultivate both in myself and others in management roles. It’s what sets a person apart—not necessarily making them irreplaceable, but certainly unique and highly valuable.
