Real World Success

Just working hard is no longer enough. To succeed in today's business world, the traditional work ethic has to be expanded to encompass leadership and interpersonal skills, dedication to flexibility, ability to learn and teach new tasks quickly and a willingness to take the initiative to learn job-related skills and responsibilities independently.

"What we have today is a more dynamic work environment that relies increasingly on interaction with others," notes Frank G. Doerger, author of Welcome to the Real Working World: What Every Employee Must Know to Succeed and director of human resources and MIS for Health Alliance in Cincinnati. "Things are far different from the day when you joined a company, filled an existing niche and stayed there. Businesses today are relying more on consultants."

"Working with consultants means working with strangers over short periods of time where you have to build immediate rapport," Goerger continues. "These types of assignments may last a couple of months and then the consultant moves on. You have to have the ability to interact with co-workers and consultants who are entering your work environment."

An increase in the reliance on consultants is one of the most dramatic changes that has altered the corporate landscape over the past ten years. Other changes that have impacted the working world are an incessant stream of technological advancements and enhancements, steady employee turnover and a business world that not only moves in fast forward but is in constant flux as well.

As new hires head into the workplace of the 21st century, employers expect them to be able to communicate effectively through multiple media, including voicemail, e-mail and the written word. Employees must be tactful, concise and careful in all communication arenas. They must understand that the nature of competition now includes higher levels of communication and interpersonal skills. Organizations are lean and nimble and want employees to reflect that attitude.

What Every Employee Needs to Know

• Don't try to shape yourself to fit a career slot; study yourself -- your interests and natural talents -- and then decide what you need to accomplish in order to achieve your career goals. Career-guidance professionals can help.
• Tend to your workplace reputation. Arrive on time; return phone calls and e-mail messages; respond to memos; stay organized; follow through on job-related commitments; and be a team player.
• Learn the jargon spoken in your business and use it. The collection of expressions, acronyms, and buzz words will help you to communicate quickly and effectively with co-workers. Avoid speaking the jargon when communicating with people outside your profession.  They may not understand it and will be more irritated than impressed.
• Set priorities, goals and deadlines and stay focused.
• Blow your own horn -- with subtlety and selectivity.
• Start saving for a rainy day on the first day of your first real job.
• If you're not computer literate, do what it takes to become so.
• Assume that your e-mail is not private and that it can be easily monitored by your employer. You employer can also track how much time you spend on the Internet and which sites you visit.
• Learn the art of making small talk with people at all levels of the organization.
• Resist the temptation to join the rumor/gossip mill. Keep sensitive information to yourself and choose the comments you share with others as if they will be posted on the company bulletin board.
• Ignorance of rules and laws are no defense when it comes to the subject of sexual harassment in the workplace. Don't tell off-color jokes; don't touch; don't flirt; don't imply a proposition; and don't comment on someone's figure or physique.
• Be a team player who is punctual, loyal, cordial and discreet; who protects the boss from surprises and tries to make the boss look good; and who tries to beat deadlines through good planning.
• Keep the respect of others in the office by keeping criticism constructive. Make sure of your facts; don't complain about one employee to others; don't criticize things beyond a person's control; practice what you plan to say; use phrases that are nonjudgmental; and reinforce future positive behavior.
• Clear, strong writing helps sell good ideas.
• Have an action plan ready in case you lose your job.
• Network, network, network. This means systematically contacting everyone you know to ask for help, advice, and support in your job search and career development.

Source: Welcome to the Real World: What Every Employee Must Know to Succeed by Frank G. Doerger, (c) General Publishing Group, 1997