| |
| |
|
Careers & Employment Information |
|
|
|
Surviving in Corporate Amercia: Part 1 - Email
There is a saying that goes, "The best offense is a great defense". Nowhere is that applied better in the corporate world than in the intelligent use of email. In this age of technology, E-mail is a multi-purpose tool that can be adapted into each user's organizational patterns. Firstly, we will get the basic do's and don'ts out of the way. Do not use your work address when filling out forms on external sites. This can bring large amounts of SPAM that may alert your IT department into watching your activities more closely. Free Internet based mail, such as Hotmail, are your best options. Do not transmit any questionable material to co-workers. Especially in large companies where you may have more than one John Smith working, sending of any sexually explicit, or offensive materials to the wrong person can get you fired. And do not forget, Big Brother is always watching. Software development have reach the point where IT developments can scan your emails for keywords, and view the message themselves. Never send out an email in anger. The written word is a powerful thing. Angry mail can set off a flurry of responses, with expanding distribution lists. If you were wrong, even one point on your multiple point attack, the entire content will be subject to criticism. If you were right, everyone on that list, and all who have heard about it, will be apprehensive about you at some point in the future. Those basic examples are known to most, but followed by few. Do not give your company an advantage over you, especially one that could have been avoided so easily. Companies undergo constant evolution, via acquisitions, downsizing, shifting focus. You never know who you are going to report to, or which company you may end of working for. The rules described here, both basic and advanced, should be applied at all times, including relationships with your Vendors. Either through a mutual project, or merger, you may find yourself working with someone you used to sit on opposites sides against. Working on how best to protect yourself is aided with email, so take the time to learn how to use your email system to its fullest extent. Here are some for advanced tips to follow: Step 1 Organize your local folders into detailed categories. How you choose to do so, it dependant on both the individual, on the position they have. If you manage staff, you will want it broken down into names, and years. If you work primarily on projects, then you will want different project names and products. Just try not to have more than 1 sub-folder. Files get lost if you have to try and look too deep. Step 2 Sectionalize all your email into those folders. If a particular email needs to be followed up, then set a flag to remind you. Best to set your flags at least one - two days prior, so it doesn't take you by surprise. Step 3 If your local inbox is clogging up your computer, save all your files to CD, portable devices, or some other storage facility. You may have to contact your IT department for more details. Make sure you properly identify each stored containment unit for easy information retrieval. With this on-going 3-step system, you will be able to better protect yourself against the day-to-day issues that happen in the corporate world. Here are some examples of how you can use email to your advantage: Confirm everything in writing. Some managers refuse to send you details of their requests in writing. They will speak to you about it and expect you to take notes or remember. However, if something goes wrong as a direct result of implementing their order, most managers will not accept responsibility. I have been witness to this more times than I care to remember. To combat this, I developed the perfect defense mechanism. I would document the request, the deliverables, and the actions to be taken as directed by my boss, and send it back to them in writing. I would NOT ask for a reply, nor would I copy others unless they were involved at the same level with me (team directive). It was enough that we both knew I could protect myself. This non-verbal action also allowed the work relationship to continue amicably. Keep everything. Sent folders, company mail, attachments, presentations, even your deleted mail. In doing so, you will be able to confront any mis-information directed towards you. All email applications have a search filter that you can use to easily find what you are looking for. You may have to parse through hundreds of emails by the same person, but it would be worth it. Some aggressive emails must first be responded to in person. There are individuals who like to pretend they are Napoleon in emails, but when you meet them, they are just short. Napoleonic characters are themselves intimidated when forced to verbalize their issues. Once the issue is settled, only then do a reply all that starts with the words, "As we discussed?" Never engage in written volleys. If people start to be added to the distribution list, cut the next response short. Emails should never be a substitute for discussion. The moment you say this beginning to happen, you should send out your next email with " In order to find a resolution, can we set up a bridge to discuss further". You can also just call the person directly, although it should be done in the same tone. In the event that you must respond, to what can only be considered an attack, via email, then take the time to find an objective 3rd party to read through it. It is important that you do not leave any holes or gaps in your arguments. You must remove all emotion from your text, and concentrate on basic facts. More importantly, the tone should always focus on resolution of the problem, and on the solution for what is being attacked. Executives are always looking for people that can remain objective, and who do not point fingers. The written word can serve as your best example of maintaining those qualities. In the event that an issue gets escalated to the execute level, you do not want them looking at you as a hothead, or a bulldog. About The Author Gary Whittaker is the managing editor at TEN Magazine. You can check out more stories on a variety of subjects over at http://www.tenwebzine.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Employment - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Wishing and Hoping Years after Disneyland was built, after the completion of Walt Disney World, the story goes that someone went up to Mike Vance, Creative Director for Walt Disney Studios and said, "Isn't it too bad Walt Disney didn't live to see this?" Without pausing, he replied, "But he did see it, that's why it's here."If any outside figure influenced my life early on, it was Walt Disney. Resume Writing - Tips and Advice Job-hunting is not the most exciting thing in the world but you can make it easier. The key is organization. The 5 Ps Of A Job Search Step One - Plan:Most people spend more time planning a one to two week vacation than they do planning their lifetime career. When planning for a vacation, you look at where you want to go, what your reason is for wanting to go to that particular place, how long it will take to get there, whether or not you want to take any side trips, what type of budget you will need, and what type of clothes you will need to take. Resume Objectives ... The Hidden Pitfalls Why Use Resume ObjectivesBefore we can discuss the pitfalls you first need to understand the reasons for including your resume objectives and how they relate to your resume and interview selection process.Including an objectives section at the beginning of your resume provides a brief introduction to the purpose of the resume, highlighting your career objectives and the type of job you are seeking. Career Change Is Not For Wimps! 3 Powerful Steps to Do Work You Love Tough words.. Consulting: A Different World I won't say I have a vast array of knowledge as a consultant.. Are Your References Ready? One of the most common forms of background check performed by companies hiring new employees is the reference check. They typically request that candidates provide them with three names of previous bosses. Create A Rappin' Resume (Percussion sounds emanating from who knows where while you listen to the cadence of the words below.)It's time to sell yourself. Overcome Interview Nerves: Be Better Prepared than Your Interviewer Although interview preparation is everything it's sad to say that perhaps as many as half of all interviewers you're going to meet will be unprepared or incompetent. It's not all their fault, it's just lack of interview preparation time or responsibility; some of them will be co-opted at the last minute to meet you and won't have had time to prepare. Your Value Proposition: A Critical Component To Having A Successful Job Search Your value proposition is a series of statements defining your worth. It is the value you bring to the table - the skills, strengths, core competencies, marketable assets and accomplishments you can declare as your own. Powerful Phone Interviews Phone interviews are de rigueur with many organizations.Companies conduct phone interviews for a number of reasons. Supplement Your Skills and Improve Your Work Position It is often said that the majority of people are but a few checks away from homelessness. Without a consistent income, this may be a true statement. Pre-Interview Web Research You have obtained an interview -- congratulations! You feel prepared to discuss your strengths, your accomplishments, your willingness to work hard and learn quickly, and your ability to fit seamlessly into the employer's needs. But. Medical Billing Businesses Are Growing Fast And Providing A Needed Service For Doctors You've seen the commercials and web sites about starting medical billing businesses in your home. You can't just start calling doctors and telling them you will take care of the billing for them. How Much Can You Earn Working As A Proofreader? Thinking of a career as a proofreader? Then you will most likely want to know about salaries. Are you hoping to hear that you will make thousands and thousands of dollars a month in this field? It is very possible that you will barely make a few hundred when you are first starting out. Salary, Raises, & Perks: Negotiate to Get Paid What Youre Worth! Salary negotiation requires preparation and good timing. It's important to determine your salary needs and research the market value for the job you want. Driver Team Solo Positions: The Nitty Gritty On Truck Driving Jobs Trucks and truck drivers are a constant presence on US highways and interstates. A person on even the shortest drive is likely to pass by a truck or two transporting goods, and even merchandise that travels by ship, train, or airplane travels on a truck for some phase of the journey to the customer. Certification for Freelancers and Home-Based Business Owners When we think of technical certification, most of us think of the seemingly endless jumble of letters that follow the names of information technology experts-MCSE, MCSA, A+, CCNA, etc. These certifications serve as standardized, objective validations that the person holding them possesses a certain set of skills and a certain level of professional competency. Job or no Job: The Certainty of Uncertainty Headline from AP via Yahoo News! January 11, 2005: "Chrysler Expects No Job Cuts in 2005, 2006." Headline from Detroit Free Press, January 12, 2005: "Chrysler Cuts 200 Hourly Workers. Risk-taking - Get Your Feet Wet! We often use the phrase, "Get Your Feet Wet" when we are just beginning to learn how to do something or are about to pioneer a new initiative. When we participate in a project for the first time, there is usually a hesitancy to step out into the unknown.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
