Moving On

Three years, seven months, and nineteen days ago, my husband and I left our long-time corporate jobs for a well-planned early retirement.  I wanted to share my experience, keep my mind engaged, and my fingers in the business world (part-time), so we founded Haropulos Bailey Consulting.  Along with several interesting consulting assignments, we have been honored to provide some free advice and coaching for friends whose careers are still in full swing. 

Each Monday morning for the past few years I have been blogging; commenting on current events, ruminating on lessons learned from past experience, and suggesting ideas for overcoming challenges faced in a corporate environment.  There is now a library of 140 original blog postings online, which I have been pleased to discover have attracted thousands of readers worldwide.

The time has come to leave our business-focused alter egos by the wayside and transition fully and gleefully into retired life.  This will be my final posting on the Haropulos Bailey Consulting blog.  (Existing postings will remain online.)  Thank you for your interest and frequent inspiration.  We would be grateful to hear from you if we have helped or inspired you in return.

I invite you to follow my other blog, chronicling retired life:  Runaway Boomer.

Time to move on.  I have an 11:30 tee time.  Happy New Year and New Plans!

Get Past the Hate

My May 2011 posting “Things Your Boss Secretly Hates About You” has logged quite a bit of readership. It’s my 4th most popular post of the 138 I have published. Some of that may be attributed to the slightly inflammatory title designed to grab attention. But there’s more to it than that, and I get a glimpse into the interest when I review what people have entered into search engines that have led them to my blog:

“annoying boss”

“hate boss”

“how to avoid a boss that hates you”

“how to tell if you boss hates you”

“when your boss hates you”

I wrote “Things Your Boss Secretly Hates About You” in the hope that some people would think about how they could change their behavior and create a better relationship with their boss. You can’t prosper in your job without finding a way to have a constructive relationship with your supervisor. Here are some ideas about how to improve the situation:

In an adult and professional way, encourage your boss to communicate what they want from you. You want to be successful. Any competent manager should be willing and able to provide ideas about how to improve in your role.

Figure out what you can do to make your boss more successful. If they are focused on their own career goals more than yours, you may be most successful with your boss by making him/her look good. You may not get direct credit immediately – but they will recognize your contribution and come to rely on it. Others will take notice too.

You don’t have to like your boss. But you will be more accepting and less frustrated if you can find some things to respect about them. Perhaps he is a budget/funding whiz. Maybe she is good at deflecting office politics so you don’t have to deal with them. He coaches Little League. She loves animals. If you can appreciate your boss on some level, and show interest in that aspect of their skills or character, you may soften their attitude.

Make it easy for your boss to see and understand how you are contributing to strategic goals. Submit a regular status report that lists your accomplishments. This not only keeps your boss informed – it highlights your productivity. Have the initiative to do this even if it has not been specifically requested.

Ask your boss for advice that will help you learn and grow. Don’t just drop a problem in their lap, but don’t be afraid to ask for clarification, perspective, or feedback on your ideas. You want to be sure that your work product meets their needs. At the same time, you can show your appreciation of their knowledge and experience.

Be honest in your desire to improve your relations. Your boss may be behaving badly. If you are straightforward with them, you may jolt them into improving their behavior. In a private meeting, you may need to say something like, “I sense tension between us, and it makes me uncomfortable. How can we strengthen our relationship?” Remember – be adult and professional.

Lastly, and most importantly, you must be honest with yourself. You may have earned a bad attitude from your boss. Are you habitually late? Are you a naysayer? Have you failed to deliver on critical goals? Do you exhibit a lack of enthusiasm for your responsibilities? If you know you are at fault – you must be willing to change.

No Place for Bias in Management

The 2010 U.S. Census unveiled a trend I find startling. More young people are continuing to live with their parents into adulthood. Specifically, 19% of men and 10% of women between the ages of 25-34 have not ventured out and established their own households (an increase from 15% and 8% in 2005). I’m sure there are many reasons for this, including the state of the economy, but I have some trouble relating to it. When I graduated from college, I was anxious to be out on my own. I shared crummy apartments with friends and worked multiple low-paying jobs at a time until I got my career jump-started and could afford my own place.

This got me thinking about the domino effect resulting from young adults living with their parents. It means that they aren’t renting apartments or buying homes. Most likely, they are postponing marriage. They may be preventing their parents from moving on with their plans, since Mom and Dad assumed that they would be empty-nesters by now. Is Mom still making their meals and doing their laundry? What kind of employees are they in the workplace? Oops. This is where my husband threw a wrench into the conversation by reminding me…

We cannot let our biases affect how we relate to our co-workers and employees. What matters is how well people work within their teams and how they perform in their jobs. It’s easy (and dangerous) to project our own life experiences and values on other people. Everyone’s life unfolds differently, and their challenge is to find a way to meet their personal and professional goals.

As managers, your responsibility is to understand as much as your employees choose to share about their personal situation and avoid judging them. Mentor them in ways that will help them be successful. Create learning opportunities, coach and direct, be a good role model, provide thoughtful feedback, reward successes, and be accessible for help and support.

Regardless of where a person comes from or where they are in their life today, you can provide wisdom and experience that will develop young professionals in a way that may positively impact their lives for much longer than the time they work for you. Wouldn’t that be remarkable?

Accentuate the Positive

You've got to accentuate the positive

Eliminate the negative

And latch on to the affirmative

Don't mess with Mister In-Between

-Lyrics by Johnny Mercer (1944)

It’s easy to criticize and be a naysayer. We all do it to some degree. But some years ago I heard a speaker at a conference talk about trying to eliminate negative-speak from our everyday language, and the challenge stuck with me.

Try filtering what you say and replacing negative statements with positive re-wording. Start by raising your own red flag when you begin sentences with words like, “I can’t”, “We shouldn’t”, “Let’s not”, “I don’t think”, “Don’t”, “We won’t”, “You didn’t”, “I don’t like”… Your hackles probably are immediately activated when you hear those words.

Instead of: “I can’t do that.”

Try: “It might be better if I did this.”

Instead of: “We shouldn’t accept that behavior.”
Try: “Let’s see if we can get them to do this.”

Instead of: “I don’t think that's a bad idea.”
Try: “That might be a good idea.”

Instead of: “You didn’t do what I told you to do.”

Try: “Let’s review my expectations again.”

Negative speaking is a hard habit to break.  Using the right words is powerful, and the results are rewarding. Speak (and write) in the affirmative and build more trusting relationships, improve morale, and be seen as a constructive influence in the workplace. Accentuate the positive!

A LinkedIn Primer for New Graduates

You have graduated (or are about to graduate) from college, and are hunting for a job. You already know that you need to create a professional profile in LinkedIn. Unfortunately, you don’t have much of a meaningful professional life to describe, yet. Nevertheless, you need to proceed with the task. Think of your LinkedIn profile as a work in progress – continuously. It’s crucial to keep your information fresh and up to date. But you need to start somewhere. Here are some tips:

1. YOUR NAME: Everyone searching for you or connecting with you will use this information. If you have always been known by a shortened version of your first name (e.g. Tim vs. Timothy), you should continue use that name. On a Search, LinkedIn knows enough to return Timothy for Tim, William for Bill, Richard for Rick. (Note that it doesn’t seem quite as smart in regard to shortened versions of women’s names, e.g. it did not list Kaitlyn for Kate.) If you have a very common name, you will need to provide other information in your profile to facilitate an Advanced Search, such as your Alma Mater and your Location.

2. YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: Not only will you use your email address to logon to LinkedIn, but your email address will be visible to all of your LinkedIn connections. It will also be used to notify you of important LinkedIn updates (including requests to connect and incoming messages). Many students have been using a university-provided email account. If you are about to graduate, you may need to create a new email address for yourself. Using gmail is a good, free option. Make your email address moniker a version of your name, so that people can easily recognize it as yours.

3. PHOTO OR NO PHOTO: Having a photo on your LinkedIn account is optional, but I believe that it is beneficial. However, a bad photo is worse than no photo. Change out of your T-shirt, put on a shirt with a collar and/or a jacket, and have a friend take a decent head shot of you for your profile.

4. YOUR AVAILABILITY: Your profile should include your graduation date and a statement regarding your availability – both in terms of timing and location. For example: “Available for employment immediately after June 2012 graduation. Currently living in Chicago, IL, but open to relocation anywhere in the continental U.S.”

5. CRAFTING THE SUMMARY: Tell us what you have studied, what your degree is in, and how you hope to apply your education (what kind of job you hope to find). This isn’t a resume. You can be a little creative here and give us a glimpse of your personality.

6. YOU DO HAVE EXPERIENCE!: A big part of your LinkedIn profile is the enumeration of your experience. You may require some help thinking about this from the perspective of a potential employer. It’s certainly easier to detail the experience you gained from an internship related to your field of study than it is to find the relevance in other types of summer jobs, but you can always focus on the responsibilities with which you were entrusted and the skills you gained. If you closed up a pizza joint after the manager went home, you were entrusted with the security of the premises and the cash register – AKA “Management Experience”. If you were a camp counselor, you were entrusted with the development and safety of children – AKA “Mentoring”.

7. RECOMMENDATIONS: You need several professional recommendations on your profile. Tap your connections while they are current! If you have had an internship, as for a recommendation from your Supervisor(s). Consider approaching other past employers and professors as well. For more tips, read my April 2010 blog on Collecting Recommendations.

8. HELP US RELATE: LinkedIn Profiles can be very dry and technical. Your profile will most likely be viewed by related professionals who understand your field, and by Human Resources professionals and other acquaintances who do not. The wording and terminology you use needs to generate universal interest. If you are in a technical field, use of specific terms may be necessary – but you also need to offer a translation for people who don’t know the lingo, so they can relate to your skills and experience in some way.

9. WELL-ROUNDED: Something prospective employers consider is whether you will “fit in” to their team and work environment. Give them a glimpse into who you are by adding a little information about your interests and extracurricular activities. LinkedIn also allows you to add a “Reading List by Amazon”. Use this if you are reading books that highlight your interest in continued learning and professional growth.

10. START CONNECTING: Send out invitations to connect to past employers, fellow students, friends, relatives, etc. The real value in LinkedIn is your network. You’ll be surprised how quickly it expands once you get started.

Once you have a draft of your LinkedIn profile – ask trusted, experienced professionals that you know to review it and give you feedback. Make changes. Look at other people’s profiles and adopt good ideas for your own use. A healthy majority of employers now search social websites to research job candidates. You can make a good impression by having a well-developed LinkedIn profile.

Other recommended reading:
Advice for Newly Hired Graduates
10 Ways to Screw-Up Your LinkedIn Presence
10 More Ways to Screw-Up Your LinkedIn Presence
Are you Purposefully Positioning Your Online Identity?

Who's to Blame?

When things don’t work out as we hope in our careers, it’s tempting to look around for someone or something on which to lay the blame. It’s the fault of that boss that you think doesn’t like you or the co-worker who is undermining your efforts. You would have done better if it hadn’t been for that case of the flu you had during the annual meeting, or if they had adopted your project plan. Office politics, misunderstandings, miscommunications, in-fighting, favoritism, organizational changes - - things just didn’t go your way. The company is messed up, and you deserve better treatment and more recognition. Well, maybe so and maybe not. You need to take responsibility for your fate.

YOUR BOSS DOESN’T LIKE YOU: That could actually be true. It’s always more pleasant if your boss likes you, but it’s not strictly necessary to your success. To combat the effects of a personal mismatch, you must be vigilant about your communication. Be sure your goals are clear. Document your work and accomplishments on a regular basis (weekly or monthly) and ask for specific validation of your work plan. Never let issues fester. Instead, face them head on and ask your boss directly for clarification, advice, feedback, or assistance. If this straightforward approach doesn’t work, you may need to seek reassignment to another department. Some incompatibilities are not salvageable. But, if you make your boss look good and be successful, he/she might learn to like you more.

YOU DESERVE BETTER TREATMENT: Try to take the emotion out of your reaction. What is “better treatment” to you? I’ll assume you get a consistent paycheck. Do you want to get verbal kudos for your accomplishments? You may have to ask for them. Seriously. “Hey boss, did you see that great thing I did? What did you think? Wow, thank you!” It’s sad to have to beg for appreciation, but if you do, it helps your boss understand what motivation you crave. Hopefully, they get the message and adjust their behavior accordingly.

THWARTED BY ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE: It can be scary and difficult to navigate the tides of organizational change, but that sort of upheaval is inevitable in today’s business environment. Get skilled at dealing with it. Make sure your new boss knows your background by providing a copy of your current resume. If you are not invited to a one-on-one familiarization meeting, ask for one. That is your chance to pitch your experience and skills, explain what you are working on, and communicate your enthusiasm for new challenges.

It is a waste of time to look for someone to blame for your stalled career. Take ownership of your fate. If the issues you face are insurmountable, it may be time to think about moving on to greener pastures.  If the timing is bad, await your chance.

No Time for You? Big Mistake

For many years, I was a hardworking and loyal employee of a major, public company. I embraced the responsibility that came with promotions and titles. I gave a good deal of thought and consideration to my team members – setting goals and creating opportunities that were intended to enhance their careers. There was a lot of business travel (which I often enjoyed) that required me to spend time away from my home and family. There were also projects that became all-consuming as far as focus, hours worked, stress and worry. Honestly, I don’t regret any of this. On the other hand, there are choices I made that I do regret, so here’s the free advice:

• Regularly make time for experiences that will provide growth opportunities for YOU. Sign up for training, classes, and conferences. Get that certification that will enhance your career profile.
• Keep your resume updated, as well as your LinkedIn profile. It doesn’t mean you are looking for a new job. It just means you are ready if something interesting falls into your lap.
• Take advantage of the availability of consultants. Good ones probably have experience you don’t, and will share with you. Not only can you learn from them; having their assistance can make you look good and be more successful.
• Nurture positive relationships with your service providers. They also have things to teach you. They are more than bodies that take work off your plate.
• Know where to draw the line on what you give to your job. Eventually you will crash and burn if you don’t protect your mental and physical well-being.
• Use your vacation time! You need to rest and refuel to stay healthy and be productive.
• Be visible in your field of expertise. Do interviews. Write articles. Speak at conferences. Join organizations. Get your name known.
• Network, network, network. Meet people outside your immediate professional sphere, and cultivate mutually-beneficial relationships.

If you think there is no time for these things – no time for you – then you are making a big mistake. Your job is a big part of your life, but it is not your life.

Idle Threats Have Consequences

Since 9/11, the TSA has zero tolerance of any stupid empty threats made by ignorant, potentially dangerous airline passengers. If someone says, “What do you think I have in that bag, a bomb?” they can expect their bag and their person to be thoroughly searched. The word “bomb” cannot be ignored in an airport these days, and there are consequences to be suffered by the offender.

In a corporate environment, there are subjects as potentially explosive that can have unintended unfortunate consequences.

Today’s economy has generated many work-related stresses, including layoffs, restructuring, and pay cuts –resulting in painful uncertainty and frustration for many. Imagine the ramifications of a laid-off employee saying ruefully that they may just come back with a gun tomorrow? To the employee it was an idle threat; a reaction to being angry and afraid, and feeling helpless. The manager, responsible for keeping the workplace safe and protecting other employees, is obligated to interpret it as a true threat. At the least, it should be reported to Human Resources and/or Security. At worst, the person could be visiting the local police station and spending their severance on legal services.

Twice in my career, I have seen employees inadvertently fire themselves. In one case, an employee who was being counseled for performance issues got angry and conversation quickly deteriorated:

EMPLOYEE: “Well, then maybe I should just quit.”
MANAGER: “Are you resigning?”

EMPLOYEE: “Yes, I guess so.”

MANAGER: “I accept your resignation.”

Years later, this exchange haunts me a little. I don’t think the employee really wanted to resign. His performance problems should have been repairable. But he got defensive and was maneuvered into firing himself, before he fully realized what was happening.

In another true circumstance, an overstressed, unhappy management-level employee threatened repeatedly to quit. Her boss, frustrated with her unreceptive, stubborn lack of response to constructive coaching, finally told her that he accepted her resignation. She was shocked. But after having heard the threat one too many times, her boss called her bluff. He wanted a manager willing to make changes for the better – not one who constantly expressed her dissatisfaction by threatening to leave.

Times are tough, and it’s easy to let frustration bubble over. But it’s best to remember that some words spoken out loud can’t be taken back. Idle threats can have unavoidable consequences.

Cautionary Advice

Imagine this: You have a good management-level job with a stable company. Suddenly, the massive project you have worked on for years grinds to a halt. Your company is the target of a lawsuit filed by a business partner. Your company responds with their own lawsuit. Fortunately, you still have a job. But the discovery phase of the lawsuit has begun, and you are involved. · You are succinctly warned not to dispose of any work product relating to the project. · The legal department has sent someone to collect the notebooks you have with all the handwritten notes you have taken at meetings during the course of the project. Don’t review them or sort them – just hand them over. · A minion from Legal has come to copy project files off the local drive of your workstation, and out of your file drawers. · Email files and shared electronic files have been subpoenaed, and are being retrieved from storage devices. They are being printed and copied for detailed review. · A lot of questions are being asked of you, about exactly what happened over the last few years. How can you remember who said what in meetings that took place months and years ago? · You are identified as a material witness who will be subject to a formal deposition. Lawyers spend days and hours preparing you for the experience. · For several days straight you are in a meeting room with lawyers from each side, a court reporter, and a taping device. Every word you say matters. How you say it matters. It’s stressful and exhausting. · Now you have been subpoenaed to testify in court. Does this sound far-fetched? It’s not. It happened to me 17 years ago when a multi-million dollar project crashed and burned. Fortunately, the case was settled out of court (to the advantage of my employer). For me (not accused of any wrongdoing in the suit), it was a learning experience. What did I learn? BE UNFAILINGLY TRUE TO YOUR PERSONAL ETHICS: It can be hard, when others around you are bending theirs. Always take the high ground, and be noisy about pointing out when others are not. TAKE GOOD FACTUAL NOTES, WITH DATES/TIMES AND EXACT QUOTES: Notes can become evidence. They should be devoid of your opinions and doodling. CONTENT OF WORK EMAIL SHOULD ALWAYS REMAIN PROFESSIONAL: I can’t tell you how much embarrassment some people I know were subjected to, when scores of people were reading their “private” emails. Compose all email as if it might be read by anyone. COMPLY WITH COMPANY POLICIES ON RECORD RETENTION: Throw away what you are not required to keep. If you still have something, it is subject to subpoena – you have no choice. I dodged a bullet years ago. I hope this cautionary advice helps keep you out of the crosshairs.

Self-Destruction by PowerPoint

Much has been written about using PowerPoint effectively for presentations. Yet we are relentlessly subjected to Death by PowerPoint by people who throw advice to the wind and insist upon humiliating themselves publicly. If you have the inexplicable urge to follow them like lemmings into the sea, just follow these instructions for Self-Destruction by PowerPoint:

· Cram as many full sentences as possible on each slide, so the presentation can stand on its own. You’re just there to read the slides to the unfortunate illiterate audience. This is an important role, since with all the text on the slide the font is too small for anyone to see anyway.
· Provide printed slides as a handout at the start, so people can get ahead and not have to pay any attention to you standing there at the front of the room.
· Jump right into the material, without stating the purpose of the presentation or giving people any idea how long it will go on.
· The more slides the better! It gives your audience a real rush when they see you are yammering on about slide 3 of 97.
· Be really creative with the use of color and fonts in your slide design. Comic Sans is such a cheerful and professional type face that just screams for primary colors.
· Don’t take up real estate on the slide with interesting and illustrative graphics…you can explain your points better with more words.
· Apply the whole gamut of animated slide transitions in a random manner. It will really keep people’s attention.
· Using other people’s copyrighted material in your presentation shows you have done your research.
· Take pains not to summarize or allow questions at the end, since the audience’s time is valuable and so is yours. The material was perfectly clear.
· Finally, let your PowerPoint creation play the starring role. Speak in a low monotone, speed through the slides (they have the handout for later), avoid eye contact, stand still and don’t use any distracting gestures, and for goodness sake, don’t smile. Presentations are serious business.

Now, get out there and self-destruct, if you must.

© Laurel Anne Bailey 2010

If you found this interesting, you may also enjoy "When Presenting, Know Your Audience:  http://habaconsulting.blogspot.com/2009/09/when-presenting-know-your-audience.html

Bridges

Work at the same company for a long time and in some ways you feel like you are on an island. It’s a pretty great island, where you know most of the other inhabitants, you have a nice cube or office to call your own, there’s a gathering place to grab a cup of coffee, and even a place to eat. If you need medical attention, insurance has been made available to ensure you get better. People know you, treat you with the respect you earn, and you even make lifelong friends. There is purpose, as defined by the work and the “government” of the island. Although on an island, you are not completely isolated. The island has a bridge or two so you occasionally travel elsewhere to conduct business. But you know you can count on scooting back across the bridge to go back to the island, where you belong and feel comfortable. Well, what happens when you no longer belong on the island? Whoa! You may have been, (as they say on the reality show Survivor), voted off the island, or you may have chosen to leave for good. This is a disorienting, disquieting situation – even if you make the decision yourself. Your previous work identity is gone; your daily routine destroyed. Perhaps you question your ability to adapt to a different environment – even though you proved yourself more than competent on the island. Your confidence is shaky, and you are a little scared. That’s not a good feeling, and perhaps it makes you angry. Remember that old adage, “Don’t burn your bridges”? This is the time that advice comes into play. Once off the island, the bridges to other places are your means to navigate the journey ahead to a new place of work. The bridges I’m referring to are your network – the people you know and will come to know in your personal and professional lifetime. The majority of new career opportunities today are found through networking as opposed to job postings. Burn your bridges and you damage your network. Today, think about maintaining existing bridges and building new ones. Make a phone call or two to touch base with a former colleague you admire. Send a supportive email to a friend. Ask for help or advice from a mentor. Venture outside your comfort zone to make new connections. For goodness sake, don’t burn any bridges! The harsh words, the angry email blast – are not worth the effort or the risk. Leave the bridge intact in your rear view mirror. You never know if your path in life will need to take you back the way you came.

Leaders Need Trusted Advisors Too

Early in our career we need and easily accept direction, advice, and criticism that help us grow and become successful in a work environment. Supervisors and other mentors provide input that shapes our approach to challenges, our ethics, how we relate to colleagues, and what we decide is important. At what point in the development of our career does the need for this type of guidance end? The answer is that it never does. Everyone needs trusted advisors, mentors, and colleagues with whom they can interact and gain perspective – even high-powered leaders. How do executives gain the input they need on an ongoing basis to be successful leaders? Look at how it’s done in American politics. As soon as a new President is elected, they name a Chief of Staff and a Cabinet. These are a group of experts that the President trusts to provide advice, help make the right decisions, and execute a vision in the service of our country. One person just can’t know it all and do it all. Government is/should be a great example of teamwork. In the business world, one of the most important things a leader does is to hire a talented and trusted supporting team. A strong, committed, and diverse executive team that is responsible and accountable for their accomplishments is a critical factor in any leader’s success. Conversely, failure to develop a cohesive and effective team can truly undermine a leader’s position in a corporation. The leader must make tough decisions, and adjust the makeup of his executive team over time to meet the ever-changing demands of the business. Advisors also come in the form of peers within the business. It’s important to develop mutual respect and collaborative working relationships with other executives responsible for segments within the same organization. Frequently, leaders can help each other by providing ideas, guidance, support, and a different perspective. Some celebrities have “Spiritual Advisors” that help them examine their faith and outlook on a life that can easily be skewed by the adulation that comes with fame. Although they certainly wouldn’t put that name to it, leaders do sometimes need help focusing their vision and developing action plans. Confidential confabs with experts and objective thinkers can help executives take leaps forward in their thinking and planning. These special advisors come from networking. They may be former colleagues who have moved on and gained a different perspective. They may be representatives from businesses working in a provider role with the leader’s organization. They may be trusted consultants with whom the leader has forged a productive bond. In the best circumstances, these advisors make the leader more successful by providing ideas, honing plans, playing devil’s advocate, and assisting with some tasks. They play an anonymous role (organizationally) and provide a valuable service. When you reach a point of success and responsibility in your career, you still need trusted advisors; and the sense to consider and accept good advice.

Advice for Newly Hired Graduates

You have just graduated from college and are fortunate enough to have landed a job to start your career. It’s an exciting time that you may find a little daunting. Your friends, family, and new co-workers will have plenty of advice to share. I have some of my own. Although I recently retired from the corporate career I enjoyed for almost 30 years, I clearly remember my start in 1980. My advice is offered from the perspective of experience and having learned some lessons the hard way. You will have to do the same – but that doesn’t prevent me from wanting to share anyway. When you first start your job, be humble. You are not much more than potential to your employer at this point. You need to prove yourself, and it will take a while. Everything you do and say right now is a building block toward a reputation that you want to serve you well. The basics still matter. Be on time for work in the morning – even if others aren’t. Don’t be the first to scurry out the door at the end of the day. Dress professionally and neatly (within dress code standards), and always be well groomed. Take time to develop relationships you can trust. No one is your friend on your first day. I know, it sounds paranoid. I’m just saying be discreet with personal information you share, until you get the lay of the land. Minimize how much your personal life encroaches on your work life in your first weeks/months of employment. You don’t want to be perceived as constantly having to deal with car problems, doctor appointments, etc. Be reliable. Focus your efforts, work hard and smart, volunteer when people need help, and ask for advice when you need direction. Good work is always eventually recognized by competent management. Take responsibility for your work – the good, the bad and the ugly. Trust me, you will make mistakes. People will respect you for how you recover from them. When you succeed, accept accolades gracefully and share the credit vociferously with people who helped and supported you. Have realistic expectations about advancement. Over the years, I never asked when I would be promoted. However, there were many times I asked for more responsibility and more work. Later in my career, on several occasions, I pitched a position that would fulfill a need and proposed myself as the person to fill the role. Promotions came naturally, every 2 to 4 years. You can take the initiative to move your career along – but remember that the needs of the organization will always outweigh your personal desires. Finally – keep growing. Constantly strive for new learning to expand your skills, even if you have to do it on your own time. Business is always growing and changing. You need to be doing the same to stay competitive. The moment you think you have arrived and start relaxing, you start losing ground. Readers: What advice would you give to graduates just entering the work force? Please submit your thoughts as a comment to this blog.