2-3-4 Friday
‘Seeking to spark the most potential within you per word of any
online newsletter’
1 THOUGHT
Names have been changed to protect identities.
Some of you might have read about my troubles finding a job in April
last year. 106 applications, 31 interviews, and 0 offers just wasn’t the expected outcome of a first-class honours graduate. Not knowing what else to do, I decided to write a book about it.
It cost me $11,500. (That’s a story for another day.)
I went on this search for people who had made this transition easily between school to work. Firstly, I realised that school performance was not a useful predictor of work performance. An overseas scholar, Ariel, did so badly that her boss asked
her,
I don’t think you actually deserve what I pay you.
Why do I pay you?
For those who didn’t do well in school, there’s hope.
What then was?
Firstly, it was learning to become a corporate diplomat. Kelly was an
ex-colleague who was well-liked by everyone. She confessed to using her university summers to playing as much as possible.
But when she came to work, she did everything she could to build friendships with everyone. Some tangible things we could learn:
- Buy some donuts for your colleagues this Mother’s Day, or any other day
- Take time to eat dinners with them
- Ask colleagues if they want a drink if you’re
headed to the pantry, or out
This skill in paying
attention to colleagues seems basic.
But what is more nuanced is
her ability to take ownership. She didn’t simply wait to be told what to do.
When a task was handed to her, she was clear about when it was due. The expectations on what the final outcome would look like.
She pre-empted problems before they appeared, and made plans for them.
It’s what we call corporate citizenship, or being the ‘goody two shoes’ citizen who picks up the stray trash on the floor.
It’s using the double tailwind of ‘surprise and delight’, to help bosses
know that you’re totally ready for that promotion.
1 TALK
When was the last time you did something nice for your colleague?
1 TIP
If you ask bosses what they want, it may not be a high performer.
It’s someone who can consistently, and reliably deliver the goods, each and every time.
Think about the things you use around you.
Like your Apple iPhone. It rarely crashes, if ever, and it always can be depended on to deliver what you need, when you need it. Or your Dove soap. Same smell, and the same luxurious feeling each and every time.
Or even Coke. Refreshing, down the throat, every time.
If you could think of yourself as reliable as an Apple iPhone, what
would that look like in terms of work behaviours?
John
Live Young, Live Well - Work Your Love
Think others might benefit? I’m counting on you. Forward this on.