Soft Skills in the Workplace First Day Dos and Donts

Soft Skills in the Workplace First Day Dos and DontsSo youve applied, interviewed, receivedthe job offer, filled out all the paperwork, andread through the company orientation manual. Now what? googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Joining a new company often means learning what systems are already inprogress. Who do you report to? How will you be given new assignments? Do youget to prioritize for yourself, or will your teamberaterin be managing your day-to-daytasks? You cant meet or exceed expectations if you dont know what they areYour First Day In The OfficeMake sure you bring something to write with and something to write on If youreinvited to attend meetings right away, sit back and observe its usually better to directany questions to your immediate supervisor or office neighbor later, instead ofdisrupting the discussion. Draw yourself a seating chart to record your newcoworkers names and where they sat (it will help you to put names with faces) andtake elendes to start getting up to speed.DOs1. Take initiativeThis doesnt mean going rogue or being resistant to existingcompany practices, but you can demonstrate that youre an independent thinkerby coming up with your own way to complete an assignment and running it byyour supervisor to get approval. They may appreciate that youre alreadythinking of ways to innovate. If they want to redirect you, be receptive to thefeedback.2. Get to know your neighborsSet a goal of introducing yourself to one coworkera day until you know at least everyone on your team or anyone with whom yourdepartment interacts regularly. Dont be distracting or monopolize their time, but even a few moments of chattingas you refill a cup of coffee can help you develop working relationships with yourcolleagues.3. Volunteer for projectsIf youre in a meeting and someone higher up the foodchain is looking for someone to lead a new project or supervise the execution of anew initiative, consider whether you r workload could accommodate an plus-rechnen(and check with your boss). Its better to be the person who says Yes, I canhandle that for youanything else? than the person who sits silently while anopportunity passes them by.DONTs1. ComplainEven if your old office gave out free coffee and omelets everymorning and all your new office seems to have is stale animal crackers, youshould approach your first weeks on the job with a continuation of your bestinterview behavior. Dont let your reputation become that of somebody whogripes instead of saying good morning, or is convinced the grass was greener onthe other side of the fence.2. Act helplessIf youre really and truly stuck, dont waste time struggling underthe radar. But with run-of-the-mill IT issues, small-scale office needs, or learningnew software, cultivate a sense of self-sufficiency. A needy employee distractscoworkers and signals the boss that theyre not ready for mora responsibility.3. Get too comfortable too quicklyBe aware of t he prevailing office culture anddo your best not to disrupt it by cluttering shared space or bringing in too manyphotos or knickknacks from home. Theres always time to bring more of yourpersonality into the office once youve established yourself as a professional first,a cat or dog or sports enthusiast second.4. Mock HR PoliciesWhether your orientation was a quick spin around the officecomplex or a more formal company-wide presentation, demonstrate yourprofessionalism by taking them seriouslyfrom the basics, like adhering to a dresscode, to the legal standards of conduct, like refraining personal comments aboutyour coworkers.

6 Enviable Qualities of People With Grit

6 Enviable Qualities of People With Grit What does it take to be number one? Ask this question, and you will undoubtedly be met with a variety of answers. Courage to press on, resolve when things mess up, and strength of character to persevere would all likely appear on the list. All of these abilities are exhibited by those who have grit, and gritty people possess the following super enviable qualities1. They confront problems head on.Gritty people demonstrate tenacity. The weak-willed may sweep things under the rug, but those who have grit know the only way to achieve their goals is to solve what stands in their way. Those with grit work to find solutions to their problems instead of worrying about them and hoping that they disappear.2. They go after what they want.Rather than waiting for opportunities to chose out of the sky and into their lap, those with grit binnenseek out chances to achieve their goals. They put in the work, even if its not always easy. If they want a promotion , they dont sit around talking about how they deserve it they take on additional responsibilities without being asked, devote extra time to assigned tasks, and go out of their way to make sure they have face time with their boss whenever possible. They chase their goals because they know their goals wont chase them.3. They take chances.Those with grit dont let fear of striking out keep them from playing the game, and they believe the risk is often worth the reward. They understand that their self-worth is not directly tied to their instant success, so if they try something and it doesnt work out the first time, they see it as a learning opportunity to fail better until they get it right.4. They know who they are.While those without grit may let insecurities hold them back, people with grit believe in themselves, and that belief pushes them to persevere when others give up. Having a strong sense of self enables them to bounce back from mistakes. Thinking about how others see you is a waste of energy, and gritty people devote their energy to attaining their goalsnot wondering how others perceive them.5. They are detail-oriented.Those with grit examine things from multiple angles, and rather than speeding through tasks, they take time to truly understand what is being asked of them. Because they value doing their best work, they consider each step they take carefully to make sure the direction they are heading in will truly produce the greatest results.6. They focus on long-term goals.Beginning a project is exciting, but as time goes on and roadblocks occur, throwing in the towel and taking it easy can start to look pretty appealing. Gritty people are able to see past one hard practice or sleepless night and visualize the light at the end of the tunnel. Though it isnt always fun, they understand that the elation of a job well done is more satisfying than getting halfway to the top and stopping.--Kayla Heisler is an essayist and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet. She is a contributing writer for Color My Bubble. Her work appears in New Yorks Best Emerging Poets anthology.