I receive at least one new business
or career book in the mail every week.
Don’t get me wrong – I love free stuff – but some of these titles make my
head spin. They all think they have the
latest formula for business world success – be provocative, get rid of
meetings, work two hours a day and go surfing, quit your job and start your own
business, embrace your individuality and if your boss doesn’t like it…tough.
There’s no getting around the
fact that Corporate America has changed a great deal in the last two
years. Companies have been stripped down
and are struggling to rebuild themselves.
Millions are still unemployed. And
personally, I don’t think any sexy new formula
is going to ensure success in this environment.
Instead, we need to listen to the minds whose lessons have withstood the
test of time, authors like Dale Carnegie, Stephen Covey, and Tom Peters who
remind us that traditional values like courtesy, hard work, and trust will
serve us well in any type of workplace, at any time.
It’s quite simple, really. Treat your co-workers as you would like to be
treated. Help them out without being
asked. If you say you’re going to do
something, follow through without having to be prodded. If you make a mistake, admit and fix instead
of trying to blame someone else or cover it up.
Instead of just doing your job
and moving on, take that extra step to make sure it’s standout work. Volunteer for a project that no one else
wants to take on. Be the person your
boss depends on, and the person other departments call when they need something
from your group.
Take advantage of the fact that
you work in the same space as actual human beings, and don’t rely on e-mail or
instant message to communicate with them.
Invite your co-workers to lunch and ask about their families and what
they do outside business hours. Remember
their birthdays, maybe even make a habit of popping a handwritten card in
interoffice mail.
You don’t need a $20 business
book. Just think about it a little
bit. You’ll know what to do.
Your post reminded me of a discussion I was having with some people from Google and Brazen Careerist the other day: if you want to make waves, you have to blow people out of the water first. Essentially, we were observing that the working culture has changed so that people don't even need to do well at their jobs (and this isn't just at entry-level, it goes up the chain). They then want to do great things higher in the organization, but can't deliver on any of their current responsibilities. If you want an exec to think you're going to be amazing in a higher position and should be dropped into a high-potential pool, then you should be amazing in the job now. Track records are there for a reason. If you aren't delivering on tasks now, you're also letting your team suffer for your bad attitude. As you say, treat others how you would like to be treated. If you don't want a co-worker shoving their projects on to your plate, why would you do the same by not even trying to do your job? Thanks for the post!
Posted by: Emily Jasper | May 20, 2010 at 01:07 PM
Excellent. Very nicely put.
Posted by: K K | May 21, 2010 at 01:52 AM
Alexandra,
Really great advice. The courteous, helpful person will truly make a better impression and have more success in the workplace than someone trying to work the system. Nice guys and gals do finish first.
Thanks for a great post.
Posted by: Arden Clise | May 21, 2010 at 03:43 AM
Making the most out of the opportunities that your current job provides can be extremely challenging, especially if your feel overqualified and underappreciated in this role.
Regardless the path to bigger and better things often goes through your current job. Either they will see and acknowledge your hard work at your current company or your experiences will make your resume that much stronger for when you need to jump ship.
Posted by: DC Jobs | May 22, 2010 at 03:17 PM
@DC Jobs: You are thoughtful and eloquent. I love your comments!
@Arden: Re nice girls and nice gals, I continue to hope this is the case!
@KK: Thanks - much appreciated!
@Emily: So glad this is a discussion on Brazen, as twenty-somethings need to be talking about the issue. The truth is that most people who get promoted have already been doing the job of the senior position for some time.
Posted by: Alexandra Levit | May 31, 2010 at 08:30 PM