07/04/2026
There are times in my work na hindi ako nagtatanong sa mga bagay na hindi ko napapansin—na critical pala in doing my task.
Then marerealize ko na lang later, when my boss points it out, that this thing is actually important.
Dito na papasok yung thoughts na:
“Ang bobo ko ba sa work?”
“Dependent ba ako sa boss ko?”
“Dapat matagal na akong natanggal!”
But the real issue isn’t dependency.
It’s not catching risks early enough.
What’s actually happening:
You’re working → you assume things are fine → you don’t ask → your boss points out something critical → you feel like you failed → your confidence drops → then it repeats.
That cycle makes it feel like dependency, but it’s really about proactive thinking vs reactive thinking.
So how do you fix it?
Instead of telling yourself “I should’ve asked,” build a simple system:
1. Add a “pause and check” habit
Before you consider a task done, ask yourself:
– What could go wrong here?
– Is there anything unclear that could affect the outcome?
– If I were the boss, what would I question?
Even 30 seconds of this can make a big difference.
2. Ask better (not more) questions
You don’t need to ask everything. Just ask risk-based questions, like:
– “Just confirming—does this affect [X]?”
– “If I proceed this way, is there any impact on [Y]?”
– “Is this something that needs approval before I finalize?”
This makes you look proactive, not dependent.
3. Create a “mistake memory”
Every time your boss points out something critical:
– Write it down
– Turn it into a rule
Example:
– “Always check deadlines before closing tasks”
– “Confirm dependencies before moving projects”
Over time, you’ll stop repeating the same misses.
4. Shift your mindset
Instead of thinking:
“I should’ve known this”
Try:
“I didn’t know this yet, but now I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
That’s how experience is built, through collected lessons.
If you’re a long-time VA and feel like you’re not improving, you’re not alone.
I actually turned this into a short guide/checklist that I personally use to catch mistakes before my boss does.
Comment “CHECKLIST” and I’ll send it to you for free.
