1. If the question begins with "Can you?" the answer is almost always "Yes."
At a few pivotal points in my career, my managers asked me questions beginning with "Can you..." and ending with something that I'd never done before. "Can you write a business case?" "Can you lead a WebEx meeting?" "Can you prepare a SWOT analysis?" I said Yes each time, knowing that between the company's resources, Google, and Amazon.com, I could find the information I needed to learn those skills and complete the task at hand.
Through this approach, I've discovered my own talents and interests, as when my spontaneous offer to teach a class about payroll taxes led me toward a rewarding 3-year stint as a corporate trainer and instructional designer. In other cases, I've bumped against my limits - A painful sojourn with Microsoft Access taught me to cross "data analyst" off my list of prospective career paths.
I'm not saying you should be dishonest or oversell your experience, but most of us undersell our capabilities because we're waiting for someone to give us training or permission to acquire a new skill. Have courage in your own resourcefulness and take a request to do something new as an invitation to learn.
2. Sometimes you have to butter your toast with a screwdriver.
Have you ever been asked to do something using entirely the wrong tool? It's hard and it's awkward and tempting to just bail on the whole project or wait for the technology to be perfect before moving forward. That was how it felt 3 years ago, when employee social networking was new at the bank. We had a clunky old tool in which discussion forums required multiple clicks into folders and nobody had a profile photo. Because the outcome (connecting employees to each other online) was worthwhile, the core team of believers channeled our inner McGyvers and made it work, moving the project forward.
You won't always have the right tool to easily accomplish your goals, but if your goals are worth fighting for, you can still make progress through creativity and persistence. Butter your toast with a screwdriver. When you have the option, ask politely for a butter knife.
3. Never microwave fish in the break room.
Remember that you don't work alone. No matter where you sit, no matter what you do, the actions that you take have an impact on other people.
Also, fish smells gross.
4. I'm rubber, you're glue.
Remember the old playground taunt, "Whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you?" There's a grain of truth here that can serve you well in your career.
The things you say about other people reflect on your own brand. If you describe every coworker as stubborn, or difficult to work with, or other less tactful terms, those words are actually shaping people's perception of you. This is why you so often see authors giving glowing testimonials on one another's book jackets: If I describe someone else's work as innovative or captivating, then people will associate those words with me.
There's a mistaken perception that you have to cut down others to get ahead or promote your own brand - This approach can only take you so far, before everyone around you catches on that the common theme in all of your toxic work relationships is you.
5. Whether you choose to find fault or you choose to find possibility, you'll have no trouble finding it.
The simplest but most important lesson that I've learned in my career is that my attitude is my choice. I choose to believe in my strengths and those of the people with whom I'm privileged to work. I choose to give people the benefit of the doubt and take an optimistic approach to my life and work.
It's very easy to find faults in any complex system: A company, a family, a society. Focusing on the faults reveals more faults, and it quickly becomes a reinforcing loop. Taking an appreciative approach, and focusing on the strengths and gifts and possibilities in the workplace, is a much more rewarding and enjoyable way to spend one's career.
Also, salads make great lunches.
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