Tom Peters – “Under Promise, Over Deliver”
IvyExec.com – “7 Things to Say to a Boss With Unrealistic Expectations”
EatYourCareer.com – “How to Manage and Renegotiate Deadlines in the Workplace”
Lesson 15: One Hour A Day: Continuous Learning
Technology and knowledge change quickly. To stay current with information and progress in your area of work, dedicate one hour a day for study per day. There really is no other way to stay current and to learn new skills.
Ideally, your management will support your study of one hour a day to keep up with technology and knowledge. Those employers that don't support continuous learning will probably lose employees to better and smarter companies and managers.
Another opportunity for learning is cross-training. The benefit of this is learning another person’s job in your department. This creates a multiple of opportunities: it enables you to learn new skills and it provides the employer with a backup person, in case the primary person is out of the office. It is a real win-win that's very actionable.
Another opportunity for learning is free online college courses that can provide you with actionable knowledge in a specific area. Also available are learning web sites that have literally thousands of courses with excellent materials for a very low cost.
If your company has a modern work environment, it may also have its own “online university” where you can take courses. Have a discussion with your manager and get his thoughts on the one hour a day learning. He may even have better ideas for you.
If management won't support you in this effort, rather than taking a lunch, consider studying through lunch while you eat. There are plenty of companies out there that support these types of learning initiatives.
Lesson 16: Read-Think-Do
The “Read-Think-Do” method is a fantastic way to learn. You use this in the following way:
Read about a subject, for example, how to stream digital entertainment.
Think about what you have read and maybe look at it again, and
Do the task – in this case, sign up to stream digital entertainment and start binge-watching your favorite shows.
This is the fastest way to learn new things, successfully apply those skills and place that knowledge into long-term memory.
Read-Think-Do is the easiest and quickest way to gain “actionable knowledge.” It’s probably 1000 times faster than any college course you’ll ever take.
Summary
Studying one hour a day to keep up with technology and knowledge is paramount. Use the Read-Think-Do method for long-term memory retention of newly learned concepts.
If you don’t spend one hour a day learning, your knowledge might become out of date.
Good companies see this as an excellent idea because they know people are their number one strength and asset.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do I study for one hour a day to keep up with technology and knowledge?
Have I talked to my manager about this?
What is my company’s policy about “continuous learning?”
Additional Resources
Linkedin.com – “7 Reasons That Continuous Learning is Important”
TD.org – "10 ways to Build a Culture of Continuous Learning”
Harvard Business Review – “Automation Will Make Lifelong Learning a Necessary Part of Work”
Lesson 17: Money
Your job must always be about the money, it can't be about anything else.
Many years ago at a corporate meeting of Nortel Networks, a Division Vice President was speaking about the division’s annual results. One thing he said was memorable: “Never forget that you work for your family, you don’t work for this company – we pay you for part of your life.”
Take this to heart: You work for your family and yourself. The company only pays for part of your life. Never forget that.
That’s why it always has to be about the money for a job. Companies need to pay you fairly all the time because you only have a limited amount of time to earn money.
For example, if they hire you as a software programmer and the pay is $80,000, that works out to $40 an hour which is low for a talented developer. If however, your company expects you to work 60 hours a week, you are now being paid at a rate of $26.66 an hour. Is that fair? No. There has to be a balance; there has to be equity for you.
Consider this: You can't put a price on life; you can't put a price on a family, but work? You definitely can put a price on that and you should, or you are being foolish. If my saying that makes you angry, good. If you have any doubts about why you are working, just ask your spouse, mate or parents. Trust me, they will tell you. Quickly.
Yes, there should be things about your career that are very important:
You need to enjoy your work
You need to like the people you work with
Your work needs to be challenging so you can grow your professional skills and intellect
Your company needs to have growth potential for you to progress
Your company needs to be financially stable
But first, you need to be paid fairly for your work.
Summary
You need to be paid well and correctly for your work. You are worth it. If you don’t do something about any pay inequity you experience, no one else will do it for you.
You work for your family, not the company. They pay for part of your life. And the last time they checked, no company can give you that time back, if you are not paid appropriately.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do I believe that I should be paid that well for my work? Or, do I think I am not worth it?
If I think I am not worth it why? What can I do to change that perception?
Who do I work for?
Who should I work for?
Additional Resources
To find out competitive salaries for your profession, check out www.Salary.com.
For more information about negotiating salaries and raises, check out these articles:
Glassdoor.com – “How to Negotiate Beyond the Raise You Were Offered”
Themuse.com – “How to Negotiate Salary: 37 Tips You Need to Know”
Lesson 18: Politics and Religion
Divisive subjects are very difficult and dangerous in the workplace. Here’s a little insight: No one knows what you are thinking until you say something or make an expression on your face. Knowing this should insulate you from worrying about topics that are controversial.
It seems like in today's world almost every social topic or controversy is acceptable and defended. That makes it very difficult to express one's opinion if you disagree with someone. In the workplace or with people you work with, the best way is to avoid talking about all these issues, whether it’s Politics, Religion, Race, Gender Identification or anything else that's a hot button topic. Doing this won't make you weak; it will make you smart and easier to work with.
The workplace is for work. If you want to have a discussion about anything other than work, do that in your private life and not in the workplace. What you need to understand is that no one in the workplace wants to hear what you have to say about social issues, especially if you disagree with them.
If someone tries to talk with you about social issues of any kind, either just don’t respond (that’s usually best) or if they push you for a response just say “thanks, but I don’t talk about those issues at work.” Then change the subject. If you can say that statement with a considerate or kind tone in your voice and no expression on your face that’s even better.
The people that do best in corporate and company climates are the ones that are savvy enough to leave their opinions on things not work-related, outside of work.
The workplace is for work, not discussions about politics and religion.
Lesson 19: Dating People You Work With (Co-Workers)
It used to be that companies never allowed employees to date other e
mployees (coworkers) from the workplace. Now with company policies changing more and more, some are allowing this practice, provided that there's no manager-employee relationship of the two people involved.
My thought on dating someone you work with: Don’t do it! Never! Not under any circumstances! (If it looks like I am shouting here, it is because I am).
There’s a reason people say it’s a bad idea; it is because it is a bad idea.
Consider this: If you date someone that lives in the apartment next to your apartment, where do you go, if the relationship doesn't work out? You can’t go home, that’s where the other person lives!
Like any other decision you make in life or business, first, consider the consequences before you do something. If dating someone you work with doesn't work out, what’s the worst that can happen? Not only can it totally blow up your work relationship and make it a difficult place to work for you, but it can also bring unnecessary drama into an otherwise amiable workplace.
So, it’s not a matter of you can't date a co-worker; it’s that you should not date them.
Summary
Dating a co-worker is always a bad idea.
Don't mix your professional life with your personal life.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Have I ever dated someone at work? If so, how did it end?
Would I ever consider dating a co-worker? If so, why?
Am I currently in a relationship with a co-worker? What worries do I have about it affecting my job?
Is anyone else at work dating a co-worker? If so, and that has ended, how did it end? What vibe or feeling is in the office now because of that personal relationship?
Additional Resources
Monster.com – Danger: Office Romance Ahead
Readers Digest – 10 Things You Must Think of Before Dating a Co-worker
US News & World Report – “Office Romance 101: What if You Are Dating the Boss?”
Monster.ca – “When Your Boss Dates a Co-Worker”
Lesson 20: The Caffeine Effect
Caffeine is a drug; a powerful drug. Most people underestimate caffeine's power and effect on human behavior. It's so powerful on the mind and body, it is surprising that more people are not aware of all its negative effects.
That said, if you are a person who's frequently anxious, hyper, agitated or finds it difficult to concentrate at work, consider reducing your caffeine intake (If you drink coffee, tea or sodas). If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, also talk with your doctor about it.
Employers often put coffee makers, tea and soda machines in the break room as a benefit for employees. Employers do that with the best of intentions, but it’s up to you to figure out if caffeine does or doesn't work well for your body and mind. If it doesn't work well for you, consider avoiding it.
Summary
Caffeine is a very strong drug. Not everyone functions well with too much of it.
If you have any of caffeine’s symptoms mentioned above, also talk with your doctor about it.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do I drink over 2 cups of regular coffee, tea or caffeinated soda a day?
Do I find my hands shaking sometimes for no reason during the workday?
Do I get edgy, tense or anxious for no reason during the workday?
Do I find myself sweating or heart racing for no reason during the workday?
Do I have difficulty concentrating during the workday?
Additional Resources
Healthline – "The Effects of Caffeine on Your Body"
Mayo Clinic – "Caffeine: How much is too much?"
WebMD-"Caffeine"
Lesson 21: Most Powerful Person in Room
Whether you are new to an organization or not, it is very important that you understand and can identify who is the most powerful person in the room. It isn't always the person who's speaking, and it’s not necessarily the person leading the meeting.
The best way to know is to ask your colleagues when you have a moment alone with them. There's a hierarchy in most companies and the sooner you learn the hierarchy and who the real power people are, the better prepared you will be to avoid making a mistake or saying the wrong thing.
In meetings, the easiest way to tell who wields that real power is by looking at everyone’s body language, who they are pointed towards and who they are looking at, regardless of who is speaking. Typically, people focus their attention on the most powerful person.
The most powerful person usually isn't the person who does most of the talking. It is usually the person who does most listening in meetings. Also, it’s not true that the most powerful person is the one that has the highest level job title.
You can learn more about an organization and its people by listening in meetings and saying little. As the saying goes “If you are speaking, you can't be listening.”
Summary
It is always very important to know who is the real power in the room.
Understanding your organization’s hierarchy is critical.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Have I ever searched for the power in the room?
How often have I been right about who has the power?
Have I ever talked with someone about the hierarchy and people in my company?
Additional Resources
Linkedin.com-"Understanding Human Dynamics~ An Essential Skill for the New Workplace"
Forbes.com-"What I Learned About Office Politics That Changed My Career"
Lesson 22: Know How vs. Know Who
There are many people who say it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. If you had to guess which is more important, “what you know or who you know”, what would you say?
If you said “who you know,” yes, you are correct. But “what you know” is also important. You need to know both to be really successful in your career. Long term, one without the other isn't enough.
If you know a lot about your job and are busily working away without coming out of your cube to talk with people, you will never progress in your career. Likewise, if you are working late to impress your boss and the boss has gone home, how will he know? He won’t.
Steven Covey in his 1990s book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” talks about “making regular deposits in the emotional bank account.” Unless you spend time with people, get to know them and build a relationship, you’ll have no one who will help you when you need help. Any library you go to will most likely have a copy of this book.
For those people who like a great story and networking information, read this book: “The Celestine Prophecy.” This is an enjoyable networking book and a quick read.
If you’re always networking but incompetent at your job, you will also fail long term. Short term you may make inroads, but today’s workplace requires hands on people at all levels. Networking is very important, but that alone won't be enough to build an excellent career. You must also have a solid foundation of skills and work.
The importance of quality work in business is so important that companies have been bringing jobs back to the United States because the quality of work in China and India is so poor and the rate of defects are so high. One case for this is Generac, a company that had gone to China and closed plants in the US. They found it was actually more cost effective to produce their products in Wisconsin because of the high percentage of defects in China and the rising cost of manufacturing there.
Summary
Yes, it is “who you know” that's most important. Develop excellent relationships with people and create a wide network of colleagues as you progress in your career. Keep in contact with colleagues at other companies by phone calls, emails, lunches, and social media.
Also, it is "what you know" that's important. You should be competent in your work.
Questions to Ask Yourself
How many people do you know well at work?
How many people have you gone to lunch or coffee within the last year, month and week?
How many people have you helped somehow in the last year?
Does your manager’s manager know and like you? Have you developed that relationship?
Do people from other departments in your company know and like you?
What else can you do in the next year to build your network of work relationships?
Additional Resources
Forbes Magazine-7 Books To Help You Improve Your Business Networking And Build Real Relationships
Chron.com-Importance of Employee Performance in Business Organizations
Psychology Today-"It's Not What You Know. It's Who You Know. Whose fault is that?”
Chapter 9: People & Their Behaviors at Work
“The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions.”
~ John Hancock
Lesson 23: People Create Problems
Here is what every manager knows: most of the problems with a project or work have to do with people. When something is wrong, it usually has to do with someone acting, saying or doing the wrong thing.
The politics of people at work can be exhausting, confusing and dangerous to one’s career. If you don’t understand what’s going on and how you should respond to certain situations, you will be at a serious disadvantage.
Whether or not you want to participate in work politics, if you work with people, you are already in that environment.
This chapter talks about things you can do to succeed at work, regardless of politics.
Lesson 24: Be the Best Liked Programmer
Don’t Work Stupid, Coach Yourself Page 5