Today, a friend of mine, Ed Viator, discussed points of advice for newbies (newly hired people) in marketing. Great article on www.evil-marketer.com.
It got me to thinking. What advice would I have to anyone starting in a new job or new business environment. There is always – create something of value that makes them thankful you are there. However, I wanted more, so I came up with a list of 10 things:
1. Your #1 customer is your boss. Remember that.
2. Your colleagues, boss, and underlings are not your buddies. They are your co-workers. Do not get drunk with them, do not confide too much them, and especially do not sleep with them. Being friendly and professional with mutual respect is great. Showing comraderie is excellent. Just do not take it too far. Bottom line is that a person in a corner will sacrifice you in an instance to save their butts. Do not give them any ammo.
3. Think that you have to create value and demonstrate your value to them every day. Just because you are there does not give you justification to stay there. You are only as good as your latest achievement today. If you do not have a latest achievement then you quickly losing value.
4. Start with mutual respect and trust. They can increase it or decrease it, just like you.
5. Do not gossip. If someone says something negative about the boss, or a colleague, do not even agree. They or an onlooker might say you said it. It may or may not be true, so just be quiet about it.? Try to quietly get out of the situation.
6. Do not brag. War stories are okay as long as they are funny or have a point.
7. Cover your ass ? do not be a fall guy.
8. Be careful with company expenses. Understand the guidelines. If there are no guidelines, make some and stick with it. If a customer wants to buy the $500 bottle of wine say it is against company policy for any wine over $100 and then suggest something else.
9. Become an expert in something even if it just that you have all the information on the product line in one directory on your computer. When people start coming to you for more information they will see you as the go-to person. So will management.
10. Offer encouragement and congratulations publically. Give admonition and criticism privately. When criticizing offer first what they are good at, or at least that their intentions are to do a good job (very people want to do a bad job, regardless of how incompetent they may be).
Stay focused on the goals, support your boss, and be the great team member. Remember this is work, you can have fun and enjoy it, but do not forget you have to be professional.
