
I had a BLAST talking with Andy Epstein about strategies for keeping focus, being creative and leading with your strengths in corporate (or new to you) environments. Please listen in, tell me your experiences, ask questions and share ideas in the comments.
Image by frischmilch, used with permission via Creative Commons License
Have you ever felt nervous starting a new project, job or adventure? Wondered how to put your best foot forward on the first day? How about two weeks in?
When communicating with others, you are constantly demonstrating your intentions. If you can get clear about your intentions: which you have put on the wall, you can communicate them clearly. Here are some tools rocking it out:
1. SHOW UP, Attendance/Accountability:
Don’t be on time—be early;
Do what you say you will do;
Be prepared: find out what is required.
2. BE CLEAR, Phone/E-Mail/In-Person:
Phone: your cell is your business line now, plan out what you will say on someone’s voicemail, consider your policy on responding to messages (is the work culture one where everyone returns calls within 2 hours or 24 hours?), be shrewd when making your ringtone selection;
E-Mail: make a very clear Subject Line, be sure to include your Contact Info, make a Draft (without recipient’s email in the To line) first, a note on blind cc’ing: either copy all openly or forward your e-mail with a note indicating why you are copying them separately;
In-Person: Use same principles, be clear, respond to points on the table and keep it professional.
3. GET WHAT YOU WANT. Really, you can!
Don’t leave until you got what you went there for;
When in doubt, ask for help OR hang back and imitate person next to you, act cool and take notes;
Keep an eye out for one another and share resources.
Good luck!