Scott has been a faculty member in higher education for over 10 years. He holds an MBA in Management, an MA in counseling, and an M.Div. in Academic Biblical Studies.
No matter where you work, things can be competitive. Everyone wants to be valuable to their employer, and everyone wants to be thought of as the ''go-to'' person for their area of expertise. These feelings of personal ambition and excellence aren't negative in and of themselves, but it's important to remember that no one is successful alone. When your superiors, subordinates, and colleagues are all succeeding, you are succeeding as well.
Let's look at a common scenario where you apply what you know. Put yourself in the shoes of an employee named Casey and apply your knowledge.
Casey was nervous, but in all fairness, who wouldn't be? Nearly a year ago, her boss of 8 years resigned. Shortly thereafter, Casey's company went in a new direction and she (you) decided it was time for a change. Casey found a new job quickly, but it did mean learning new people and new procedures. Like anyone would, Casey's first day came with some nervousness about impressions and attitudes. How should Casey proceed?
Using what you learned in the lesson Helping Your Manager and Co-Workers Succeed, consider some questions.
Casey begins to contemplate her options and prepare a strategy. For this list of things that Casey is considering doing, determine if her idea is likely to be positive, negative, or irrelevant (neither).
| Idea | Your Assessment |
|---|---|
| Send the new boss an email explaining that, although you are new to the company, you have lots of experience. | + / - / neutral |
| Quickly ask the boss for the necessary authority to carry out the tasks that have been piling up while the position was vacant. | + / - / neutral |
| Indicate a willingness to have an informal discussion about the transition process. | + / - / neutral |
| Say ''It's great to be a part of the team!'' as soon as you arrive in the department. | + / - / neutral |
| Solicit some off-the-record information about what to expect from each of the department's staff members. | + / - / neutral |
In a general sense, making colleagues and supervisors successful is a great decision both personally and professionally. The process of building success for everyone begins by demonstrating a willingness to be a team player. Second, it's important to communicate early. Over time, you will adapt to the communication preferences of those around you. Until then, err on the side of over-communicating rather than under-communicating. This is because under-communicating can be easily misunderstood as an intentional snub. Finally, it's important to be intentional about relationship-building with everyone on the team.
If, like Casey, you're looking at a scenario in which there is a new team member, it's important not to be too analytical about communications with them. In other words, Casey should be prepared for nearly any reaction from the boss. Even if it initially seems negative, making those around you successful starts with believing the best about them.
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