What They See

How to stand out and shine in your new job

Jennifer Swanson

• Editore: Communication Diva Publications
• Anno: 2016
• ISBN:
  9780988010130
• Edizione: 1
• Argomento: Desarrollo personal
• Categoria: Éxito personal

We send messages constantly—through our body language, actions, what we carry with us and what we wear. Being aware of the messages you send is the first step in learning how to build an image of professionalism that will assure others that you are capable, competent, and right for the job.
An expert in the field of communications and human relations, Jennifer Swanson has written a must-read book for students, new graduates, job seekers or anyone looking to fulfill their professional goals. This book will help you discover how others perceive you when you make a first impression and will show you how to ensure that the world sees you the way you want it to.

CHAPTER ONE

YOU GOT THE JOB—NOW WHAT?

There’s more to success in the workplace than a fabulous resume.

Okay, so you mastered the interview. Congratulations! You dazzled them with your brilliance. Now what? What happens now that you have the job?

In this chapter, I will tell you about the qualities employers are looking for in a new employee and I will teach you how to be the best and most professional employee you can be—particularly in the crucial first few months (the dreaded “probationary period”).

MAKING THAT FIRST IMPRESSION

We have all heard the expression “you only have seven seconds to make a good first impression.” However, a series of experiments by Princeton psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov¹ dismisses the idea that you have seven seconds to impress, and suggests that you actually only have one tenth of a second for someone to judge you favourably. From the moment you extend your hand to say hello, opinions have been formed. This does not mean opinions cannot be changed, modified, or reversed over time, but it does literally make that first moment key.

And then what?

What’s next?

What’s next is that first few months after that first impression ... that time of orientation and starting to learn the ropes and what is often a time of employment probation. This trial period is equally as important as the first impression made and is, in fact, critical to you keeping your new job and succeeding in the months to come.

You want it to work out.

How you present yourself (everything from what you wear, to what you say and do), will set the foundation for how successful you are in the job in the long run.

As a new employee there are many things outside your control, that you can’t do much about ... and there are also quite a few things that are in your full control and that you can do a lot about. So it is important to be aware of these things and know how you can manage them.

What this isn’t about is making you into a robot lacking in creativity, initiative, critical thinking, and innovative ideas; a robot who simply does the work and gets paid. Anyone can do that, and that kind of employee is not going to stand out or shine or change the world. That kind of employee is not particularly special or interesting or critical to how well the company functions.

That kind of employee is expendable. You are not that kind of robot.

What this is about is having some “cool tools” in your toolkit. What it’s about is being aware of how you come across to others, and how you can monitor and change that if you need to. What it is about is becoming a valuable (shall I dare to say “indispensable”?) part of your work team.

What it’s about is you, and being the best “you” you can be.

And so, I’m going to walk you through some of the things that will make a difference beyond the first millisecond. Some of these things you might already know and feel like you’ve already mastered, and if that’s the case, consider this a refresher.

Some of them will be new for you.

Whatever the case, I’ve been the new employee several times myself, and have coached dozens of people who are starting new jobs, many of them in workplace environments they have never experienced before, so I have a few tips and ideas for you, and a few stories to share along the way.

One of the first things you might feel—after the excitement of actually being told you have the job—is nervous. It’s hard being new to the team.

Part of what makes you as a new employee nervous is that you’ll be in orientation and likely on probation or have a trial period at the start of your job. Thinking of this period as an opportunity is a good place to begin. Instead of it being a time of testing (to see if you’re actually any good and whether or not they’ll keep you), think of it as a chance to shine. This is a learning time when you are expected to ask a lot of questions. Take charge of your own learning, and be proactive in it. People are usually very willing to help you, and as long as you are not abusing their generosity, as long as you are working hard, people are willing to help you succeed.

This learning time (orientation, probation, trial period) is not a time to sit around waiting for people to tell you what you are supposed to be doing, but rather a time to set yourself some daily learning goals, and to evaluate each of them at the end of the day. This is a time to get curious, and to ask questions and keep notes that you can look over and review later. Find out how things are done, who does them, and what your responsibility is in the mix. This time of getting to know your new workplace and the people in it can be very rich.

It’s also exhausting, because there is so much to learn.

Being nervous about starting your new job (and being tired at the start) is entirely normal. So is making mistakes, and we’ll talk more about that later.

SO, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “BE” PROFESSIONAL?

Let’s talk about something you know is important and I’m sure you’ve been told you need to be at work: professional.

“Be professional,” they tell you. “Act like a professional.” “He’s very professional at work.” “She looks very professional,” and so on. You’ve heard it. I’ve heard it. It seems like something to aspire to. Of course, you should be professional at work.

But what does that actually mean?

And how can you be it if you aren’t clear about what it is?

You have prepared really well for the interview and have blown them away. They’ve decided to take a chance on you ... to hire you. You are new and you want to make a good impression.

Better yet, you want to make an EXCELLENT impression ... without looking like you are too eager or inauthentic.

You got this job ... and now (quite simply), you want to keep it and do well in it.

Being professional is what we are focusing on here.

Being professional, rather than being “a” professional, speaks more to how you do things, how you behave, how you respond, etc., rather than what qualifications you have.

I consider a professional to be a person with good manners, one who has respect, who cares and is concerned for others as well as for him or herself, and who exhibits businesslike conduct in the workplace. A professional does the job well and takes pride in the work done.

With this definition, EVERYONE can behave in a professional manner, and those who do, get noticed.

In a good way.

How you do your job, how you carry yourself and present yourself to others, how you manage your time, how you speak (both in terms of the words and the tone of voice you use), what you wear, and what values you hold dear ALL contribute to a sense of professionalism ... and the secret is ... (drum roll here) ... You CAN be professional no matter what it is you are doing!

How to Style a Sandwich Professionally

There is a woman who works in the cafeteria at a local training institute. This cafeteria is a busy place at lunchtime, and one of the stations is the sandwich-making station where this woman works.

I watched her in fascination one day while I was there doing some coach training. She was incredibly professional. She looked each person in the eye and smiled as they came up to her station. She offered them bread choice, spreads, fillings, and took great care as she spread the spreads, placed the filling in the sandwich, cut it nicely, and plated it. She was not just making a sandwich; she was styling it! She was putting her best effort into making the best sandwich she could craft, and the interesting thing was ... people would wait. It probably took her longer than it needed to, but because of her professional and obviously caring attitude, people appreciated her work.

What made it professional was that she cared about the needs of the person she was serving, she did her work very well, and she was proud of it. And she stood out because of that. I happily waited in the line-up on several occasions just to watch her work. And of course, the results were delicious.

What if everyone applied these principles to the work they do, no matter what kind of job it is?

Pay attention to how people approach work and see if you can spot those who act professionally and those who do not.

Seth Godin said in his audiobook Linchpin, “You are not your resume. You are your work.”² I think what he means by that is you are not what you list on a sheet of paper, all the accomplishments and itemizations of what you have learned and can do (all important, of course), but you are what you do and how you do it. You can say you possess all sorts of skills and diplomas and certificates, but until you show people in real time what it is you are capable of, the resume is just a piece of paper. You have the ability to show people what you’re made of, which is far more than just following the rules and being mediocre. You have the chance to shine ... to be the best you can be at whatever it is you are doing ... to connect with others and become more than just another employee, but one who is a key player in the organization.

You want to become necessary.

ELEVEN ATTRIBUTES OF A TRUE PROFESSIONAL

A true professional possesses all or most of these essential attributes:

a positive attitude

a handle on WHY they are there in the first place

expertise in their area

a good work ethic

accountability

awareness of their limitations

fantastic communication skills

humility

gratitude

generosity

a willingness to learn

Do you possess all or most of these essential attributes? What, if anything, could you work on to instantly improve your professionalism? We will be exploring these attributes in detail in this book, and I will offer you ways in which to improve in the areas you choose to work on.

Are You an Expert?

Professionals are experts in their fields.

Of course, at the beginning, you might not be. You have all the training and theory you need to get started, but you may not yet have the experience to be able to call yourself an “expert.” Professional athletes become so because they spend years practising. Professional artists spend years learning their craft. Professional lawyers spend years studying and practising. Professional thereminists—theremin players—well, you get the picture.³

You are, however, well on your way to being professional. Your willingness to learn in your new position is key to moving you forward. Take notes. Ask questions. Be constantly curious abou...