Recently, I observed a young mother the evening before her third-grader started the fall semester. It was a new school for Robbie. Mom had done her homework. New clothes. School supplies. But, then, Super Cyber Mom shifted into turbo drive. She flipped on her laptop and showed me an entire briefing package for Robbie. A list of cell phone contacts with cartoon graphics. Spots where he could pen in the phone numbers of new pals. She scrolled down through school lunch menus and homework rules. Robbie would get a printout tomorrow morning. This wired momma zoomed way beyond buying erasable markers and soccer socks.
During the average career today, people can expect to change employers 10 to 12 times. When you start a new job with a new firm, you fret about the duds you wear and your attaché case. You spend a few extra minutes fixing your hair and buffing your shoes.
What do grown-ups almost never do? Figure out that this isn’t the first day of school!
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You’re about to be whacked with a deluge of data. Have you mapped out a plan of attack for soaking it in? People are obsessed with how others see them. In truth, what people remember even more is how others treat them.
n Names. You’ll meet a lot of people on the first day. Maybe there will be a security guard or receptionist in the main lobby. How will you remember their names?
It’s time for a refresher course from Benjamin Levy’s classic “Remember Every Name Every Time.”
“Once you’re actually shaking hands with the other person,” Levy says about focus, “the first task is to get your name out of the way quickly. That lets you give your full attention to the person you’re meeting.”
n Friend or foe? Who will I threaten or even offend? Do some research upfront. Don’t pry, but new bosses often drop cues about who may be upset by your arrival. Was there an inside candidate who didn’t get the job you landed? Ask yourself: How do I build bridges to make foes friendly?
When you’re in their office, study the personal trophies that matter to them. Chat them up. For an avid angler, it’s sure to be that black bass mounted on the wall. For a political buff, memorize that inscription on the handshake photo with the famous senator.
n Think territorial. How do people interact? In many companies, people wander into offices and cubicles of others freely. In others, the open office design is all show.
One executive suite I visited billboarded itself as totally open. In two hours, I learned this outfit had a company culture. A throat culture. If you crossed a threshold unannounced, people would clear their throats. Code: “Buzz off. I’m busy.” They didn’t even know they were doing it.
*Baggage. Don’t make negative comparisons.
“Oh, you process medical claims that way here? All we had to do at Peerless Periscopes was to …” So, why don’t you just sail on back there and do it like that?
*Get company-computer literate. If you’re starting with a new company, what are their house systems? Can you research the system before you start? What’s the scoop on personal use of company computers or cell phones?
*Read between the rule book lines. The rules to learn fast are the unwritten ones.
On the first day, start scouting for someone who can help you understand what the real rules are. The mere scent of garlic shrimp from Asian takeout may give your new boss hives. In some outfits, the parking lot is strictly unreserved. Heaven help you if you land in the “unassigned” nesting spot on downpour day.
*Learn who the “gatekeepers” are. Often, people with tiny titles have colossal clout. Get to know who mans the portals, before you get your pinkies smashed.
Down the road? Bribes are always a bad idea. A choice bonbon or an autographed photo of their favorite quarterback? Well now, that’s a social skill.
One of the best ways to stick around in a nice new job is to slip into it with class.
Mackay’s Moral: Start smart – don’t let the door hit you on the way in.
Harvey Mackay is author of The New York Times best seller “Pushing the Envelope.” He can be reached through his Web site: www.mackay.com; or Mackay Envelope Corp., 2100 Elm St., Minneapolis, MN 55414.
