From Water Cooler Wisdom
It's been a while since we've talked generationally, and since these ideas came up in two media interviews this week, I thought I'd share them here:
- Focus on acquiring transferable skills. You have all the time in the world to get promoted and have the responsibility of a senior executive. Enjoy not having to take care of anyone but yourself and focus on acquiring skills like project management, budgeting, sales, marketing, and client relations.
- Use your initiative one small contribution at a time. Rather than insisting on changing the company overnight, identify areas where you can improve upon a product or process and make your suggestions selectively. Once one idea is well received and implemented successfully, you can move on.
- Take charge of your own career path. Just showing up and doing a lot of work doesn’t mean your contributions are visible or that you are deemed worthy of a promotion. Use job descriptions and work with your boss to develop a six month and year long career plan with concrete goals that you will achieve. Insist that your performance reviews are done on time.
- Make your boss look good. Go to lunch and discuss exactly what she needs from you. Determine how to surpass her expectations. Be self-sufficient and solution-oriented, respectful of her time, and accommodating.
- Look for a mentor with a generosity of spirit who is just a few years ahead of you on the ladder, ideally in another department. Emulate how she looks and behaves, dresses and interacts with colleagues and clients. Define the relationship, set up a regular meeting schedule, and have questions prepared for each session. Look for ways to do something for her in return.
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