01

DID YOU KNOW THAT 89

PERCENT OF WORK
KNOWLEDGE IS ACQUIRED
ON THE JOB? NO WONDER
MANY EMPLOYERS BELIEVE
THE NUMBER ONE
RESPONSIBILITY OF NEW
WORKERS IS TO BECOME
LEARNERS.
02
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BUSINESS
SKILLS, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIRST
FEW YEARS OF ENTERING THE REAL
WORKPLACE, IS THE WILLINGNESS TO
ASK QUESTIONS AND LEARN AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE. THERE TRULY IS NO SUCH
THING AS A DUMB QUESTION! MANY OF
THE PEOPLE I STARTED WITH AT MY
COMPANY ARE MID-LEVEL AND SENIOR
EXECUTIVES BECAUSE THEY ASKED
QUESTIONS OF EVERYBODY.

-ANN WOLFORD

03
 Fran really wanted to make a good impression her first day at work,
since her cousin had gone out of his way to get her a job as a
secretary. But when the supervisor showed Fran where she’d work,
Fran realized she’d be doing a lot more than typing.

Fran says, “She asked me if I knew Excel. Before I knew what I was
saying, I’d said ‘yes.’ Then I had to stare at the screen all day because I
didn’t have a clue. The next day, I had to tell the supervisor the truth.
I felt about six inches tall crawling into her office.”

04
It is important to be totally honest about how much you know from
the start at a new job. Your employer doesn’t expect you to know
everything, so be honest about what you really do and don’t know.
To save yourself time and embarrassment, ask these key questions:
• How exactly does this work?
• Am I doing this satisfactorily?
• What could I do to do a better job?
• May I see if I understand you correctly?
• Is there someone I can go to if I need help?
• How could I help with that?
• Would you run that by me again?
05
 Besides helping you learn your job, asking questions can get you a
reputation as a learner—and that’s a reputation you want. There’s a
world of difference between “I don’t know” and “I’d like to know.”
Don’t stop with your lack of knowledge. Make it clear that you really
want to know how things work. You want to know all you can about
this company. You just can’t get enough. Questions can help you
handle conflicts and authority. Put your disagreements in the form of
questions. “Do you think it would work to try this?” “What do you
think about . . . ?” “If we tried this instead, what do you think might
happen?” Never underestimate the power of a good question.

06
 Aldenaire & Partners

LEARNING IS NOT ATTAINED

BY CHANCE. IT MUST BE
SOUGHT FOR WITH ARDOR
AND ATTENDED TO WITH
DILIGENCE.
—Abigail Adams, wife of U.S.
President John Adams

07
 LEARNING THE ROPES
Your first year is a learning period in which you
should strive to master your job. Learn all you
can about your company and team members.
Some companies appoint a mentor for each
new employee. A mentor is a more experienced
employee who will show you the ropes.
Whether or not your company follows this
practice, start looking for your own mentor.
Find someone whom you can ask anything.
Make sure he or she is somebody who likes to
answer questions. Be sensitive about taking up
someone else’s time. Since we tend to become
like the people we spend time with, choose
your mentor carefully, if you have a choice.
08
 RULES OF THE CUBE
As you get to know your new coworkers, there are a few rules to keep in mind if you are
new to the “cubicle lifestyle.”
• Don’t just barge into someone’s cubicle—wait to be invited in or knock if it’s a tall
cube.
• Avoid using the speakerphone.
• Be aware of how your voice carries.
• Avoid discussing private matters in your cubicle.
• Make a good impression by keeping your desk clean.
• Avoid peering over the tops of your coworkers’ cubicles or peeking in as you walk by.
• Avoid loitering outside a coworker’s cubicle while waiting for him or her to finish a
conversation or telephone call.
• When leaving your cubicle for long periods, set the ringer volume on your phone to
low; also, set it to answer in one or two rings.
• Play music at a very low level—or use headphones.
• Be careful of food odors and using too much perfume or cologne. 09
 EARN YOUR STRIPES
You may think that because you’ve been hired,
you’re automatically entitled to the same respect
and consideration as everybody else. But when
you start a job, you have to prove yourself and
earn the respect of your team. While you’re
learning the business your first year, you’re laying
the foundation for your reputation.

What can you do to earn your stripes? Here are

some answers given by team members, from
postal workers and department store clerks to
business managers and telemarketers:
10
 Aldenaire & Partners

1.
Work harder than
anybody else. Come in
early and leave late, 2.
Have a positive
even if all you do is
polish your desk. Do attitude at the office,
more than you’re even if you feel you’ve 3.
Keep a notebook.
asked to do. Develop made the worst
Remember dates, 4.
a reputation as a hard mistake in your life Be a professional
names, clients,
worker. taking this job. Give cheerleader,
and instructions.
coworkers a smile and quick to
Go home and
a warm hello. congratulate
memorize.
(sincerely) and
express
appreciation.

11
Aldenaire & Partners

5. 6 7

Be the most available Stay sharp, ready for your big Demonstrate your commitment
person on your team. You moment. When you first start to the company. Learn all you
will probably have more at a job, your main can about functions, titles, and
time than established responsibilities may be small, clients. Ask others for their
team members. If you get so do everything you can to 4.
ideas about the future of the
a free minute, ask learn about the company and business. Do outside research
somebody what you can help and encourage others. and keep up on competitors.
do to help. The best thing When you finally get the Be knowledgeable. Volunteer
you have to offer your chance to do more, your for assignments. Ask to sit in on
team is you—your time, research and observations of meetings. Join professional
your abilities, your energy. coworkers will be useful, and organizations. Learn all you
others will encourage you. can.

12
Aldenaire & Partners

TOP RESPONSIBILITIES FOR A LEARNER

Ask questions Follow through on every responsibility

Learn your job Develop good relationships

Learn the jobs of others on your team Work hard

Be a cheerleader for your team Be available to help where needed

Learn all you can about your company Have a positive attitude

Volunteer for duties

13
 Good learners have discovered the
secret of humility. Humility isn’t
thinking you’re lowly and worthless.
Humility means having an accurate,
balanced picture of yourself that is
neither too lofty nor too low.

Pride, pretentiousness, and power

trips are behavioral dead-ends in the
workplace. The path to good self-
esteem isn’t to kid yourself about
yourself. Know yourself well, and
accept yourself. That’s healthy. Not
knowing everything is not the end of
the world. You can learn what you
AN ACCURATE VIEW OF SELF don’t know now.

14
Don’t forget your role as a learner. Earn the
respect of your coworkers; don’t demand it.
Maintain a quiet sense of confidence, and don’t
be afraid to learn from everyone. Expect even
the lowest person on the totem pole to have
something valuable to teach you.

WHEN YOUR HEAD GETS TOO BIG TO FIT

THROUGH THE DOOR, REMEMBER
WHERE YOU CAME FROM. DON’T RUB IT
IN OR FLAUNT IT IN FRONT OF YOUR
COWORKERS AND FRIENDS.
—Bradley G. Richardson,
Jobsmarts for Twentysomethings

15
Aldenaire & Partners

A GOOD FOLLOWER A GOOD LEADER

makes the boss look good volunteers for responsibility

carefully chooses his or her acts on his or her own initiative

times of disagreement

supports team ideas takes input from others and makes decisions

contributes in the most helpful way to the

asks for advice team

takes personal responsibility for team goals

gives full attention when others speak
tries to motivate teammates
follows orders
admits when he or she is wrong

offers solutions, not problems

is willing to follow others when necessary
16
Humility means not thinking too highly of
DON’T THINK TOO
yourself, but it also means not thinking too lowly LOWLY OF YOURSELF
of yourself. Just as you should be realistic about
your weaknesses, don’t shy away from using your
strengths. Know exactly what you have to offer
your company that nobody else has.

Just because you’re trying to learn as much as

possible, don’t hold back your talents. Try to
share them with others. While people may or
may not want to utilize your talents, your offer
says good things about how you present yourself
to others. Don’t pretend to know less than you
do.
17
 KNOW WHEN TO LEAD
During your first year, you will probably be more of a
follower than a leader. But be ready to lead
whenever it helps the team. Leadership means
taking responsibility, not credit. Volunteer for jobs
that will help your team. Fulfill every responsibility,
no matter how small, and your team will come to
depend on you.

Accept yourself realistically and visualize your own

potential. Learn all you can, including what you
gather from your own mistakes. Start accepting
yourself so you’ll have no need to prove yourself to
yourself. Become someone you like and trust.

18