If you do more than is expected of you, then you go above and beyond. Companies are fortunate to have employees who go above and beyond because it typically means that they do more than their job description.
This expression is positive and is used to bring attention to someone’s outstanding work. If someone went above and beyond, it means that they completed what was required of them and then chose to do additional work on top of that. Here are a few examples:
- Anna has always been a good friend, but she went above and beyond when I had the flu last month. She brought me homemade meals everyday, even though my house is a 45-minute drive from hers!
- We are extremely proud of our marketing team. They consistently go above and beyond in their efforts to increase brand awareness.
A. Who do you think we should give the MVP award to?
B. Alex went above and beyond on our last project. He worked some nights and weekends, even though he didn't have to.
Did you know? This expression has its roots in the military. The original expression was "above and beyond the call of duty." It referred to soldiers who gave their lives for their jobs.