Important Lessons from Corporate Life So Far ..

It’s better to under-promise and over-deliver.

• I have seen many people in my career who would end up agreeing to anything that is expected out of them and not only just accept them but they’d add up something more from their own side, just to look good at the time of accepting to deliver on such expectations. They later realize that it is easier to raise the unrealistic expectations than to fulfill them. And indeed they fail miserably. It is, thus, far better to just take a step back and hear the other persons expectations properly and then ponder over it and then come back with your answers or another set of questions to further clarify the expected deliverable(s). Post this, should you deliver with your full attention and vigour. This thoroughness will ensure that you deliverables are far better than the expectations set by you to the other person.

“OQP” principle

• Workplace is a place, wherein, you would spend your most number of productive hours and this is the same place which will decide your quality of life to a large extent and will have a major impact on your future. Hence, it is important that you surround yourself with Only Quality People, Hence the OQP, which will ensure that you’re always driven towards self development and eventually may as well follow your true passion. The OQP gang of yours will eventually take your places in your career. What this means is consciously seeking the company of better people, if you’re the best person in the group then you sure know that it is time for you to change that group.

Clean Desk and Desktop Policy

• Many organisations have this policy wherein they expect employees to have their files in order, the desk where they sit are expected to be kept clutter free from the employees side. So many people just wouldn’t do it. I, on the other hand, would urge all of you to try out this policy for 30 days and you need not exactly follow what your organisation tells you but do for the same but to really see what works for you. I suggest you to start by clearing any pages or any other unorganised files to be put aside. Ask your company to provide you with a cabinet/desk with a locker to keep all your unattended items of the desk. your desk top should only have your laptop or desktop to work on. This will give you an instant gratification and sense of cleanliness which will further help you with a good mood while attending your day to day transactions in the company.
• This policy once applied to the desk, then, should be applied to even on the files stored on your computer. Have your files stored in order of some logic. Let the folders have names which are easily recognisable. The desktop screen should, ideally, not have even a single file/folder. But, if it must have either of those let that be a folder. At any point in time, a file shouldn’t exist in your computer without a folder. This will help you immensely in getting the data as and when needed easily as it is easier to search and look for the folders vs the single files. This step alone can take away a lot of stress from your work life.

Boss is always right

• This isn’t about sucking up to your boss/manager but this is about learning the art of getting your stuff through. This is more about managing a bad boss. This point is not applicable for a pragmatic manager but this is specifically applicable for the managers who are famous for notoriously micromanaging. You must at least have a workable relationship with your manager/boss/supervisor. 
• Remember, you can not be the fish of a pond where you don’t have workable relation with the crocodile of that pond. It is always in the interest of the fish to have this relationship

Communication in and out of the office only via formal channels

• Remember, you’ll be bothered as much as you’d let others to bother you.
• Opening your private communication channels, such as Watsapp, Telegram, Instagram, Facebook etc. etc., to the office people will only suck you further deeper into the work beyond the working hours.
• In countries such as India, and for that matter almost all the Asian countries, where organisations have little respect for people’s “me” time giving in your informal channels to the formal channels will only bring your more frustrations. 
• Better to keep the formal channels intact, if there is something really urgent or there is something really important your manager/colleague will call you. They’d eventually write an email to you informing about the urgency and that’s better. This way you’d have the freedom to find more time for yourself that you truly deserve.

Most Important: Learn to say “No”

• The work in an organisation has a habit of never coming to an end. I.e, work never ends. Hence, to be always available is ridiculous. Specially when you have done your bit and your boss is seeking your assistant on something more, however difficult it may seem to say no, learn to say No. 
• Tell your boss that you’re not saying “No to the work” or “to help him”, it is just that you’re asking him that you’re more than willing to help him but since it is already end of day and that you’d pick this work up tomorrow first thing in the morning. This is the correct way to say no.
• Also, if the work is really important and this is not usual of your boss to seek your help, in such scenarios you must help your boss or colleagues out. Bailing out on such situations wouldn’t be appropriate.
• When some of your colleagues are playing politics on you, it is better to call it out rather than start to play along with them in their own games. Playing politics is the last thing you should be doing. Politics may feel gratifying but in the long terms it will only prove to be detrimental to your personality.

Plus remember, have patience and build relationships. Skill and relationships are the success mantra. Great Skills with bad relationships and great relationships with bad skills don’t have lasting success. All the best. 

Regards, Pawan