Corporate lessons: What I learned on the job

The corporate lessons I learned still reverberate today. Having done “time” in non-profit and now cultivating my own business, I certainly look back with fondness on my days of the corporate credit card and limitless cell phone plan. Where did the bills go? We didn’t know. They just got paid.

Even so, my time in the insurance industry was definitely not cupcakes and rainbows. It did, however, provide me with critical business and life learning . I’d like to share with you a few of my corporate lessons learned along the way.

1.Give them what they want, not what they ask for

I had not mastered business maturity in the early days and so I applied my perfectionist tendencies to mastering operations and producing what I was told to do. I was a straight arrow with the illusion that success resulted from following directions.

For example, I vividly remember my recruiting team was asked to generate a national attrition analysis trending back three years for the specific position we hired for. We flew into corporate HQ and presented to management. We did not get half way through our beautiful PowerPoint when the big boss said “We’ve seen this before, thanks” and cut us off. We put hours of work into this, how could they!

At the time I had failed to realize that what they really wanted was an answer to: “What’s your problem with people quitting and how do you plan to fix it?”

Lesson learned: Read between the lines and give them the value they actually want. Inevitably this involves a solution, not carefully calculated information.

2.Cut corners

At the end of the day, what you’re evaluated on is the result you deliver. No one really cares how you do it. As I grew wiser and began to buck the system more, I figured out that I could get ahead faster if I created my own approach to completing tasks instead of following the “paint by number” job execution of those who preferred everything to be spelled out for them.

Sometimes I decided to recruit virtually instead of visiting a campus in-person (saves travel time). I may have snuck into the office on a Saturday morning to make up for taking personal time during the week (created flex time). I collaborated with recruiters in parallel programs (gleaned referral candidates).

Lesson learned: Don’t just do what you’re told. Break the template a little and color outside the lines even if you occasionally get wrapped on the wrist for your productive although slightly deviant approach.

3.Wear a poker face

Over time we mature and even become jaded by colleagues, meetings, and the performance evaluation circus and so we present in a more neutral, controlled fashion. Not so true in our early years or when we’re in a bad work situation.

Make no mistake - the majority of your communication is nonverbal. People can read your face and body language . When you betray your emotions at work, it will come back to bite you. I remember receiving feedback that when I sat around the boardroom table and did not like a decision, a task, or a question, managers could read my displeasure which apparently was inappropriate.

Lesson learned: No one should be able to read your mind through the negative emotion your face leaks. Why not? Your slightest reactions influence your impression on others, even your reputation and the confidence management has in you.

The best way to handle your emotions is to decide whether or not the issue is something that needs a voice or your own internal management. Communication is a beautiful tool with tactics that can empower and positively shape your world. Use words when needed.

Want more lessons? Check out the article 7 smart things Donald Trump told me. http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/7-smart-things-to-learn-from-donald-tr...

Action: What are your lessons from work? Share them with me: stacy@truecareerchoice.com