Out of the Cubicle & Into the Corner Office
A Resource for Young Professionals who want to be future, impactful, leaders
The questions “Why you should eat with your co-workers?”, “Who to eat with?”, and “Where to eat?” were answered in previous posts. Now, you may be wondering, “What should I talk about during the meal?” Eating with your colleagues is perhaps the best opportunity to build your relationships and give and provide feedback on a variety of work and non-work related issues. If you google “what not to talk about at work,” you will find...
In the last few posts, you learned 1) why it is so important to eat with your co-workers, 2) that it doesn’t matter where you eat, and 3) to be genuine in your discussions during the meal. This post will address the controversial topic of “who pays the check” if you do elect to go out to eat at a restaurant and not in the office. When two cars race toward each other, the first...
Now that you know how important it is to eat with co-workers, next question you may ask is “Who do I eat with?” The short answer is – anyone, as long as you are not eating alone and you are taking advantage of the opportunity to learn something new. This is not a new concept, Greek Philosopher Epicurus, who lived from 341–270 BC, said, “We should look for someone to eat and drink with before...
Although it is intuitive that you will be a happier employee and more productive at work if you build positive relationships with your co-workers, most of us overlook one of the easiest building blocks to use – eating together. Think this is a good idea, but don’t know where to start? The next series of blogs will walk you through WHY it is important to eat with your co-workers, WHO you should eat with, WHAT...
As a young professional, you’ve probably already clicked the send button on thousands of emails. Sending email is an important communication tool in the professional world, it is important to shed bad habits and use it effectively. Similar to any other activity, you need to continuously upgrade and practice to perform at a higher level. The first step in mastering email is to knowing when to send one and the second is knowing how to...
At least once a month for the past five years I’ve ordered an Italian cold cut sub for dinner after a late night at the office. Last month my local sub shop did the unthinkable! They changed their bread. Unappreciative of the new bread, I decided to try a different sub shop on the way home. I was pleasantly surprised when, after I dialed the number, the man on the other line asked what my...
There is a reason that most cultures, past and present, have a phrase for “breaking bread”. Sharing a meal with a group of people helps build a communal bond and can be one of your strongest tools when it comes to forming, or furthering, relationships with clients. These experiences can be a positive factor in your career growth, or can be a significant hurdle- depending on how you handle yourself. Have you been invited to...
Have you ever walked around at a gathering, laughing and joking with old and new friends, only to find later that the spinach-dip appetizer has been stuck in your teeth the whole time? It’s been obvious to everyone else but you! Why didn’t someone just point it out and save you the embarrassment and bad image? Sometimes other office behaviors are the equivalent of the spinach-in-the-teeth faux pas for you, your peers, or your firm....
One of the most frustrating things for young professionals can be receiving feedback. In my experience, feedback comes in one of three forms: Compliments, Purposeful Feedback, and Negative Criticism. By learning to decipher the feedback code and react accordingly, you will grow both personally and professionally. This is the first of a three part series examining the three main forms of feedback. It takes some people years to learn how to appropriately handle feedback...
Decision making is a skill. Learning how to make fast confident decisions can set you apart from the crowd and make you a valued voice of reason on your team. While others will debate and waffle on their opinions, you can show your leadership by making your mind up quickly and moving forward with an action plan to boost the team’s productivity. Learning how to process lots of information, weigh and balance multiple options, and...
Civil Engineering Accomplishments with Tall Buildings
March 16, 2015
