Career Cool

Entry into the professional workplace is a time of great excitement. Graduates have just completed one of the most grueling commitments to gaining knowledge for the opportunity to participate in the corporate world. Through those years they have been encouraged as the best and brightest. They have attended classes and seminars to build skills and confidence in their abilities. Finally, they have attended commencement  exercises which  foster empowerment and build enthusiasm.

But, very little in that knowledge exists which prepares them for the give and take of office life. Very little prepares graduates for the transition from theory to reality. As we expand this website, we will bring more practical knowledge and experiences which will assist with the transition to the workplace. Let us start with the basics to help you keep cool in pursuit of your career:

Communication, Coordination, Cooperation

Master the 3C's -Communication, Coordination, and Cooperation.  These three can solve more problems than all the technical skills.  People often state that the problem is communication, or coordination, or cooperation but are unable to solve it because they have not developed the skills to communicate, coordinate, or cooperate effectively.  In corporate societies, these are usually considered secondary.  Unfortunately, to solve most problems, these skills are truly primary. Below is a list of ten basic practices to follow:

1.  Prepare a list of all tasks, small and large, short-term and long-term, and update each morning.  This is the first rule of coordination and of communication.  If you forget tasks, large and small, you are poorly organized.  If you are poorly organized, you cannot coordinate and communicate properly.  The confidence of others in your ability to coordinate and communicate will be eroded.  When you are given a task, however minor, write it down.  If someone asks that you change account #2000 from $2 to $5, write it down.  If someone asks you to change the test time from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., write it down.  Cross the tasks off your list as they are completed, but keep the list as a record.  A daily calendar is the best tool for this purpose.   

2.   Review the list first thing each morning and prioritize the tasks for the day.  This will help you develop a routine for the timely completion of all tasks.  People will know they can expect a timely response from you.

3.   Return all telephone calls as promptly as possible.  Generally, people call because they have a genuine need.  Foster the practice of cooperation and communication by responding quickly.

4.  Completion of each task requires employee interchange with the intention of helping those employees.  Help others to do their job more easily.  This is the essence of cooperation. 

5.  Treat everyone with courtesy.  If you treat people the way you would want to be treated, people will look forward to working with you.  

6.  Treat everyone with respect.  Most people want to do a good job.  Most people believe they have something to contribute and most do.  Everyone needs recognition and acceptance.

7.  Listen.  This is a rule taught by all communication courses from Dale Carnegie to Toastmaster Clubs.

8.  Do not assume.  Do not assume an employee will know or will see what you see. Communicate clearly, concisely, and thoroughly.

9.  Prepare a plan for all tasks on the list. The plan may only take five minutes but it will provide a guideline from which all team members can coordinate.  Always agree on at least two milestones -- the start date and the completion date.

10. Include in each plan a schedule with milestones and employee responsibility for each milestone.  This helps develop all 3C's. 

The workplace should have the same ambience, the same joy, and the same happiness as all other places in our lives.  The workplace should be a place where people come together to apply their unique and individual talents for the successful accomplishment of a project.  From the success of that project, each contributor should share in proportion to his giving.  Those who are willing to give more should receive more.  This utopian view is not yet within our reach due to competition and manipulation.

Communication

Cooperation

Coordination