Resolve all personal challenges with love
In high school, if we had a problem with someone, we’d tell four other people about it, so that by the time we actually voiced it to the person, we had “ammo” to state our case: I think you’re horrible, and they all agree with me!
Anytime you have a grievance with someone, make sure that you keep private both what the person did or said to upset you, and the action you take to resolve it. It’s a wonderful practice to praise people publicly, and to reprimand privately.
Go to the decision maker with any apparently unsolvable challenges
Why is it that when a person has a problem at work, they tell everyone but the person who could actually do something about it? Why waste your “woe is me” dribble on someone who can do nothing to resolve your challenge? Take your challenge directly to the decision maker.
Be knowledgeable, literate, and articulate
I would like to challenge employees, owners, and new hirees to be those things by taking responsibility for your education, your knowledge, and your growth, rather than expecting or assuming that the company should provide all the education.
Always “look the part” of an impeccable professional
Whatever your business, you’ll want to dress, act, and look the part of the type of business you represent. (Would you trust a dentist who didn’t have any teeth?) In fact, you’ll want to look the part of the most successful person with your same job.
Bottom line, it’s a good idea to dress beyond where you are in life and to look as though you’re more successful than you really are.
Be professional always
The opposite of professional is amateur. Which would you prefer to be dubbed? Every person working for a company has an impact — either positive or negative — on the customer’s experience. Every individual should be professional always, because whether you realize it or not, customers are watching and judging.
Do not get personally involved with clients
All businesses are for profit, so whenever an employee or representative of your company gets personally involved with clients (in a dating situation, for example), you run the risk of messing with continued loyalty from that customer.
Personal lives remain personal
Although curious, “inquiring minds” want to know the personal details of co-workers and clients, divulging such information could offend the person and destroy your culture and community. Therefore, personal lives must remain personal. Unless a person wants to share the intimacies of their personal life in order to receive support and advice, it’s no one’s business to know whether or not so-and-so is divorced, gay, straight, a recovering addict, or any other personal, private detail.
More on workplace relationships
- Getting along in the office: Belligerent people
- How to deal with a difficult colleague
- 11 Ways to avoid awkward conversations
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