How to get noticed at the office this summer?
6 April 2009
Read by 2073 persons
Jean-Michel Milon's answer, consultant and coach at Leroy Consultant, author of the album "Get Up and Work".
"Summer is the perfect time to shine, there are fewer people and less hierarchy. We are less disturbed by emails, phone calls... This can be an opportunity to go beyond the scope of your position by proposing improvements to gain efficiency or profitability.
Getting your ideas validated
If it's in the company's interest and well-argued, you won't be criticized for showing initiative. However, take the precaution of notifying your N+1 by email of your idea, even if they are on vacation. If your company is highly hierarchical and managers have little autonomy, take the time to get your initiative validated by a manager who is present, if possible with written agreement.
Taking a step back
What kinds of improvements to suggest? Summer is a good time to take a step back. Think about how to work better together, to improve the organization. One of the recurring problems in this area is meetings: I see managers who complain about spending 60% of their time in meetings, without leading to concrete decisions.
If you make suggestions - systematic summary after each meeting, time limit... - you will surely be welcome. Other possible themes: the reorganization of the premises, the settlement of a sensitive issue for the company (a dispute, an unpaid invoice...), the writing of a welcome booklet for new arrivals, the updating of the client directory... Or even a benchmark on the practices of the competition: marketing, products, innovation...
Going beyond your scope of work
Summer is a good time to step outside the framework of your mission, to go beyond your scope of action, to dare to take risks. One of the managers I coached thus carried out a factual study during the summer on workplace accidents in his company: costs, origins... He had accompanied his investigation with improvement proposals. This was highly appreciated by his managers. And this reflection, you can lead it with several people, by associating managers from other departments, by proposing brainstorming meetings on quality, operation or on a specific problem.
Making yourself known in the company
Moreover, even without a specific work theme, summer can be an opportunity to organize inter-department lunches and bring together teams that never meet or who only communicate by email or phone for the rest of the year. Thus, construction site accountants in the construction industry, used to working each in their own corner, decided to meet once a year to share and exchange on their practices and it was very enriching. Indeed, meeting new people in the company is giving yourself the possibility of discovering new professions, activating your network and creating new opportunities for professional development.
Self-promotion
Finally, whatever method you choose to get noticed during the summer, remember to let it be known, to advertise your initiative, by sending an email to several people internally, this will prevent your manager, with a tanned complexion, barely off the plane, from trying to appropriate your idea." Words collected by Arnaud Normand
Posted online April 6, 2009
capital.fr
"Summer is the perfect time to shine, there are fewer people and less hierarchy. We are less disturbed by emails, phone calls... This can be an opportunity to go beyond the scope of your position by proposing improvements to gain efficiency or profitability.
Getting your ideas validated
If it's in the company's interest and well-argued, you won't be criticized for showing initiative. However, take the precaution of notifying your N+1 by email of your idea, even if they are on vacation. If your company is highly hierarchical and managers have little autonomy, take the time to get your initiative validated by a manager who is present, if possible with written agreement.
Taking a step back
What kinds of improvements to suggest? Summer is a good time to take a step back. Think about how to work better together, to improve the organization. One of the recurring problems in this area is meetings: I see managers who complain about spending 60% of their time in meetings, without leading to concrete decisions.
If you make suggestions - systematic summary after each meeting, time limit... - you will surely be welcome. Other possible themes: the reorganization of the premises, the settlement of a sensitive issue for the company (a dispute, an unpaid invoice...), the writing of a welcome booklet for new arrivals, the updating of the client directory... Or even a benchmark on the practices of the competition: marketing, products, innovation...
Going beyond your scope of work
Summer is a good time to step outside the framework of your mission, to go beyond your scope of action, to dare to take risks. One of the managers I coached thus carried out a factual study during the summer on workplace accidents in his company: costs, origins... He had accompanied his investigation with improvement proposals. This was highly appreciated by his managers. And this reflection, you can lead it with several people, by associating managers from other departments, by proposing brainstorming meetings on quality, operation or on a specific problem.
Making yourself known in the company
Moreover, even without a specific work theme, summer can be an opportunity to organize inter-department lunches and bring together teams that never meet or who only communicate by email or phone for the rest of the year. Thus, construction site accountants in the construction industry, used to working each in their own corner, decided to meet once a year to share and exchange on their practices and it was very enriching. Indeed, meeting new people in the company is giving yourself the possibility of discovering new professions, activating your network and creating new opportunities for professional development.
Self-promotion
Finally, whatever method you choose to get noticed during the summer, remember to let it be known, to advertise your initiative, by sending an email to several people internally, this will prevent your manager, with a tanned complexion, barely off the plane, from trying to appropriate your idea." Words collected by Arnaud Normand
Posted online April 6, 2009
capital.fr
