By Gary Bennett
With apologies to kindergarten graduates everywhere, I offer the following thoughts on good manners and self preservation tips learned over a lifetime working in an office setting. When you learn to play and work well with strangers, it is easy to apply these to the rest of your life.
Return messages within 24 hours. I am always very careful to follow this one even if it is to say that I received your message and will get back to you soon. It is just common courtesy. But, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to follow up just to see if someone had even gotten my message, and that’s if I even remember to do so. This lack of carefulness is seeping more and more into the consumer marketplace. It’s very difficult to reach a live human being these days, which necessitates leaving a message. Response is generally so low one has to wonder if anyone is even monitoring these messages. When my message is not returned in a timely manner, I can only assume that you have more than enough business and don’t need mine.
Ask for and return favors. This is a difficult one to get used to and may seem counter-intuitive. But, helping others and asking for help is evidence of higher level thinking and your supervisor will take notice. Trust me, the boss will be impressed if you pull in others and share the credit.
Don’t keep to yourself but get out there and join the fray. In many office jobs, it’s easy to keep to yourself and do it yourself. But if this is your strategy for going along and getting along, it won’t work. Eventually you will be seen as someone who doesn’t get enough accomplished and doesn’t know what is going on.
Introduce new people and welcome them aboard. Sounds easy, right? You’d be surprised how often this doesn’t happen. Hiring managers usually mean well but introductions is one of those things that tend to get put off until later. Imagine how well this would work when new people move into your neighborhood. The involved real estate agent could bring around the new neighbor and introduce them. This completely removes the awkwardness of introducing yourself.
Don’t shy away from tough assignments. We’re all busy, but I’ve found that those who take on the tough assignments and give it a good try and even ultimately FAIL end up in better stead than those who perform well on the easy stuff.
Dispense with jargon and abbreviations Using industry jargon, abbreviations and acronyms makes us look smart and like an insider, but it is the easy way out. It takes extra time and thought to use full and correct wording, but it will pay dividends in the long run because understanding is increased, which promotes the ability to solve the issue. I don’t know how many times I’ve been accosted with jargon from everyone from the property management person to a government bureaucrat trying to help me. Yes, I know you know your business, but I don’t.
Be willing to say you are sorry. This may not work in matters of love, but it works everywhere else.When you provide a right answer to the wrong question or forget that attachment, just own up to it. Apologize for costing someone else some extra time even if small. It’s not a sign of weakness and you won’t be looked down upon. Over time you’ll be seen as someone who takes ownership of mistakes and is not insecure. A person I volunteer for sent an email without the referenced attachment. When I asked for the attachment, it would have been so nice to get a quick “oops – sorry!” Instead all I got was the attachment and no acknowledgement of my time at all. Disappointing.
Be on time. This is a simple one but one that is almost always abused in direct proportion to one’s level in an organization, Yes, everyone knows you’re busy and double-booked but everyone has a job to do and their time is important, too. Chronically showing up late for meetings is a blatant show of disrespect or worse. Don’t do it. Just manage your time better.
Don’t blow off small talk as a waste of time. Because I perceive myself to be a hard worker, I’ve had a tough time with this one. But you learn over time that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Go ahead and ask about that ailing mom or how that special casserole turned out. It won’t cost you much time and you’ll be seen as a caring team player. My insurance broker is a master at constructive small talk and I am loyal because of that.
Don’t keep someone waiting who wishes to do business. There are limits to everything and if someone is waiting to talk business with you, the small talk will have to wait. It’s been more than once that I’ve been kept waiting in a store or business with my wallet out and ready to pay while two employees shoot the breeze oblivious to my presence. This tends to leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Don’t be a vocal martyr. No one wants to hear how you are working late or through lunch to tackle a tough assignment. Just do it. People will notice. You don’t want to hear how your stump removal person just can’t get to you because it is “crazy busy” right now.
Toot your own horn but not too loudly. There is an art to this one. You have to advertise a bit to get ahead but you shouldn’t have to be obnoxious about it. Why do you think the best law firms and financial planners barely advertise at all?
These 12 tips work well for me but I am under no illusion they are universal or will work for you. What are your tips? Leave lessons learned from your workplace as a comment to this article on fredericknewspost.com.