The first thing when you embark on a new career, is to make a positive impression, on your new colleagues, and especially your superior. The first and foremost thing to do is to show your initiative - you don’t want your superior to constantly tell you what to do, it’s time consuming for one, and your abilities is questioned. Don’t wait to be told what to do, seek advice perhaps, but always be initiative.
Don’t just surf the web when the day is slow, do something else, perhaps administrative duties. You need to be affectionate about your job. However, don’t show too much initiative, you’ll come up as being a suck up, because it looks like that you’re born to please. Keep things efficient, don’t colorize your output - it shows disrespect and sometimes it may come off as stepping on toes.
The most annoying thing that I hated during my reign as a manager of some 20 odd people, is when staff make excuses. I hate that. No one ones to listen to excuses. KNOW the difference between an excuse and a reasoning. Look at addressing the main point here, your mistake, by acknowledging it and taking steps to correct it. Don’t be a taichi master.
Stop complaining all the time if you want to impress your superior. Stop being so negative and do something about it. Your superior is in the same situation too but you’re too blind to see it because you feel it’s your God-given right to moan and groan. Instead of complaining, look at constructive criticism - propose solutions.
Another annoying thing is asking TOO much stupid questions, is a waste of time and makes you look like Homer Simpson. Stop being a kid that you need someone to hold your hand and change your diapers every time. Figure it out yourself!
A Year Ago
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Tags: abilities, boss, criticism, efficient, impress, initiative, productivity, suck up, superior, tai chi, work day
December 7th, 2007 at 9:08am
good one. fyi this month is my last month at my current position, starting Jan i’ll be in a new position at a different company. so i’ll keep your tips in my head. thx!
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December 7th, 2007 at 11:00am
That being said, we must also remember that managers or bosses are also human. It doesn’t mean we need to impress them ALL the time. They can be wrong too. Just my 2 cents.
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December 7th, 2007 at 12:51pm
I manage about 20 Ewoks at my Death Star Slave Mines. The excuse that I love to hear is “I forgot” because then I will reply “Perhaps I will tell the account department to forget to bank in your salary this coming payday. Perhaps that will improve your memory next time?”
Never fails to work.
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December 8th, 2007 at 9:56am
This is a very good and useful post.. Thanks.
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December 9th, 2007 at 10:44am
mrBadak Good luck! Changes will do us good.
Giddy Tigress Yes, but ultimately it is them who have a heavy bearing on your job. However, one must always be differentiate “impressing” with “sucking up”.
Wombat “I forgot” pisses me off too.
Sha Hope it helps!
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