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  • InsideTrack
  • February 22, 2010

    Go ask Alice. Survival skills for career success.

    Michael Moore 

    Michael MooreWatch future issues of InsideTrack for Michael Moore’s series offering career and practice management advice in today’s economy. If you’d like Michael to address a particular issue, please contact him at mmoore@moores-law.com.  

    While wandering in Wonderland, Alice meets the Cheshire Cat. “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” The cat answers, “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.” “I don't much care where,” Alice says. “Then it doesn't matter which way you go,” says the cat. “So long as I get somewhere,” Alice adds. “Oh, you're sure to do that,” explains the cat, “if you only walk long enough."  

    New paths mean new opportunity

    Many people have been forced to deviate from planned career paths due to our recent economic challenges. More often than not, these new opportunities are not likely to be temporary. Therefore, they require you to refocus your goals, objectives, and strategies to get you back on track for personal success. Unfortunately, this period of adjustment may negatively impact your daily performance, and before you realize it, you have lost the new opportunity because you failed to embrace certain fundamentals of career success.

    People skills  

    A survey by Harvard Business Review showed that people overwhelmingly prefer to work with people they like even when those people have less skills than highly competent jerks. If you are disliked by people you work with, it may become irrelevant whether you’re good at what you do, because other people will avoid working with you. Make yourself smile, even if you don't feel like it. Do this consistently throughout the day, and you'll be pleasantly surprised how others respond. Make a habit of expressing gratitude. When someone does something from which you benefit, even when they're expected to, let them know you appreciate their effort.  

    Listening Skills 

    Make a real effort to listen to everything that's being said to you. Show people you are paying attention by making good eye contact and squarely facing them rather than sitting at an angle. Nod your head when you understand what they're saying. Briefly summarize what the person has attempted to communicate to you, and they’ll know they’ve been heard. Don't interrupt when someone else is speaking, and don’t complete their thoughts for them either. These behaviors irritate most people. 

    First impressions last 

    When someone meets you for the first time, they’ll draw conclusions in the first three seconds. They will evaluate how you dress, your body language, your demeanor, and your mannerisms. Don’t come to work poorly groomed or dress in inappropriate attire. Don’t tell off-color jokes, gossip about co-workers, or announce your views on race, religion, or the boss’ personality. Project an image of competence, character, and commitment. Be honest, use proper grammar, and avoid slang and expletives.

    Be a team player

    Don’t isolate yourself. Create relationships with others in your organization. People who network effectively have an inside track on resources and information. Adopt a positive can-do attitude, even in the face of criticism or in the case of nervousness. Don’t let fear of making a mistake paralyze you. Instead of saying, “I’ve never done that,” say, “I’ll learn how.” If you do make a mistake, admit it, and find the learning opportunity in the situation.

    Be on time

    Organizations need people they can depend on. The person you are meeting with is not interested in your “good excuse” for being late. Plan to arrive a few minutes early. Allow time for possible delays in traffic or directions. Arriving early is always better than arriving late. If the project deadline is Wednesday, first thing Thursday is not okay. Missing deadlines is not only unprofessional, it screws up other peoples’ schedules and might even make your boss look bad. When making commitments, be sure to under-promise and over-deliver.

    Avoid personal business on company time

    Every organization’s email and phone systems are for their business, not yours. An American Management Association study found that 76 percent of businesses monitor employee Web use and 55 percent review employee email messages. A growing number of organizations have established policies on personal Web use including personal postings on blogs. Among these, 26 percent have fired people for misusing the Internet and another 25 percent have fired people for email misuse. Keep personal phone calls brief and few. Never type anything in an e-mail that you don’t want read by your boss. Avoid the temptation to do online shopping or vacation planning and, especially, do not spend time job hunting for your next opportunity.

    Avoid office romance

    Office romances can be fairly common because the office is where we spend a third or more of our time. It is a nonthreatening environment where we have an opportunity to meet potential dating partners and learn more about them other than just what they look like. Yet office romances are almost always a bad idea. If you become involved with your boss, your accomplishments and promotions will be suspect; if you date a subordinate, you may risk charges of sexual harassment if the relationship ends badly. Everyone you work with will know about your romantic entanglement, and it will color their opinion of you, sometimes positively but usually negatively.

    Create a personal development plan

    To make the most of your new opportunity, you need a personal development plan. Whether your goal is to be a better employee, get a raise or promotion, or just stay focused, having a plan will help you succeed. Set objectives and plan your daily activities around achieving them. Manage your priorities and focus on those tasks that support your career goals. As Maria Robinson observed, "Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

    Michael Moore, Lewis and Clark 1983, is a professional coach for lawyers and the founder of Moore’s Law, Milwaukee. He specializes in marketing, client development, and leadership coaching for attorneys at all levels of experience. Moore also advises law firms on strategic planning and resource optimization. He has more than 25 years’ experience in private practice, as a general counsel, in law firm management, and in legal recruiting. For more information, visit www.moores-law.com.

    • Related: Lawyer resources in a down economy (WisBar.org)

    • Previous articles: In transition? Don’t let it bring you down; Effective networking and the lesson of the pot belly stove; Social networking means 33 million for lunch; The elevator speech: Who are you and why should I care?; How do you get more clients? Use the narrow focused request; New age lawyers: ‘We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto’; Aligning your stars: The challenge of staff retention; Networking: How to work a room; ‘Trust me.’ Every lawyer’s need for personal credibility; Of mice and men: Why you need focus for success.


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