We're at the end of the offseason, so I thought I'd ask one more general purpose question: What's the best career advice you ever received?
For me, there are two:
1. Never go to your boss with a problem without having at least two proposed solutions in which you've thought through the downstream implications and can articulate why you think they're better than the status quo.
Your boss might or might not agree with your solutions. But he or she will greatly appreciate that you took some initiative and are looking to solve problems, not have someone solve them for you. Believe me, the boss gets tons of people who regurgitate a set of facts into their lap and ask, "What do I do?" When you demonstrate that you're not one of those guys, your boss will remember that.
A corollary to that comes from the Big 4 Accounting / Consulting world -- "Never make a partner think."
2. When a colleague helps you out, whether they're a peer, or above or below you on the org chart, thank them in writing (email is OK). But don't leave it at that. Tell their boss how much you appreciated their efforts, in writing, copying the colleague.
Your colleague will appreciate the thanks. But they will remember forever that you made them look good in front of their own boss. They'll also be much more likely to help you in the future.
Wish I'd gotten those pointers in Business School, not halfway through my career.
For me, there are two:
1. Never go to your boss with a problem without having at least two proposed solutions in which you've thought through the downstream implications and can articulate why you think they're better than the status quo.
Your boss might or might not agree with your solutions. But he or she will greatly appreciate that you took some initiative and are looking to solve problems, not have someone solve them for you. Believe me, the boss gets tons of people who regurgitate a set of facts into their lap and ask, "What do I do?" When you demonstrate that you're not one of those guys, your boss will remember that.
A corollary to that comes from the Big 4 Accounting / Consulting world -- "Never make a partner think."
2. When a colleague helps you out, whether they're a peer, or above or below you on the org chart, thank them in writing (email is OK). But don't leave it at that. Tell their boss how much you appreciated their efforts, in writing, copying the colleague.
Your colleague will appreciate the thanks. But they will remember forever that you made them look good in front of their own boss. They'll also be much more likely to help you in the future.
Wish I'd gotten those pointers in Business School, not halfway through my career.
