Being terminated, down-sized and otherwise escorted to the door with a cardboard box of belongings is not as uncommon as you may think. (It is often cloaked with names such as having been “reorganized” or laid off.) Is there a way to avoid experiencing this fate? Although we cannot control destiny, there are steps every employed person can take that might just minimize the chances.
Tip 4: Mentor a newcomer or join the “buddy system” at work. Getting involved with the onboarding process, which aims to smooth a new hire’s entry process and get him or her up to speed in record time, is a great way to show your commitment to the corporation/employer.
Tip 5: Be nice. Yes, there is power in “nice”! A recent study conducted by North Carolina University shows that “being nice and playing well with others” gives you a very real competitive advantage. One new study shows that project managers can get much better performance from their team when they treat team members with honesty, kindness and respect. A second study shows that product development teams can reap significant quality and cost benefits from socializing with people who work for their suppliers. And a University of Michigan study found that nice folk had a 60 per cent lower rate of premature death than curmudgeonly peers. Lots of compelling reasons for niceties!
Tip 6: Pepper your conversations with compliments. To expand on the “be nice” idea, mention that your boss looks great today, tell the shoe-aholic that her shoes are out of this world, and even murmur your sympathy in response to the office woe-is-me complainer. Life is difficult for some; don’t add to it. A sincere compliment or a willingness to listen won’t hurt. The other side of this tip is ensuring that you’re not the chronic complainer or malcontent.
Tip 7: Ask your boss for a meeting. Be proactive in your career, and ask for feedback. Is there something else he’d like you to do, a project she’d like you to research, a team he would you to join? Remind her of good work you’ve done in the past and how it has impacted the company and reflected on her. A little strategic public relations belongs in every career management toolkit.
And one final tip: Continue building your skills and knowledge. In this fast-paced world, where knowledge is added at lightning speed, you cannot avoid ongoing study. Invest in yourself, and if you do find yourself looking for a new job, you will be well-positioned.
- submitted by Stephanie Clark.