I cannot even begin to explain how important it is for a fresh graduate to be productive, pro-active, and efficient at work. At the same time, it is of the same importance to realize that generating ways to become more productive and efficient is a completely individual pursuit.
If a person does not do it on his/her own, then no one else is going to take charge or pardon their irresponsible behaviour. At best, he or she can expect to achieve a helping hand in this pursuit. In the age of continuous mental stress and distraction, it’s important to figure out individual ways of stress relief and sticking to it, in order to be in the best form.
It is also essential to prioritize work based on its importance and urgency to make efficient use of time. In this case, using the Eisenhower Decision Matrix can be very helpful.
Besides, keeping up-to-date with the changes happening in the world today can help us perform better through the use of latest knowledge and better technological know-how.
Responding instead of reacting
Having an adaptive attitude is key in the face of predictable as well as unpredictable situations at work.
Whatever the situations are, it is important to keep your head calm and respond instead of reacting to those situations.
The cockroach theory for self development proposed by the current CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai, narrates: “At a restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from somewhere and sat on a lady. She started screaming out of fear. With a panic stricken face and trembling voice, she started jumping, with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach.
“Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group also got panicky. The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away, but it landed on another lady in the group.
“Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama. The waiter rushed forward to their rescue. In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter.
“The waiter stood firm, composed himself, and observed the behaviour of the cockroach on his shirt.
When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his fingers and threw it out of the restaurant.
“Sipping my coffee and watching the amusement, the antenna of my mind picked up a few thoughts and started wondering, was the cockroach responsible for their histrionic behaviour? If so, then why was the waiter not disturbed?
“He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos. It is not the cockroach, but the inability of the ladies to handle the disturbance caused by the cockroach that disturbed the ladies.
“I realized that it is not the shouting of my father or my boss or my wife that disturbs me, but it’s my inability to handle the disturbances caused by their shouting that disturbs me.
“It’s not the traffic jams on the road that disturb me, but my inability to handle the disturbance caused by the traffic jam that disturbs me. More than the problem, it’s my reaction to the problem that creates chaos in my life.”
An underlying message to take away from the above is to take all the positives and avoid negativity in any situation, be it a problem or a solution. In the end, it is only negativity that causes the reaction -- whereas positivity only helps us respond more efficiently.
Amassing mentors
It is undoubtedly a big challenge transitioning from academia into the real world. So, taking assistance from mentors who have already undergone the switch beforehand can be extremely helpful.
Jack Welch, the CEO of General Electric, in his book Winning mentions about the importance of having mentors: “Mentors are everywhere. Don’t just settle for the mentor assigned to you as part of a formal program. Those official mentors teach you the company ropes, but they’re just a start. The best mentors help you in unplanned, unscripted ways. Relish all that they give you in whatever form they come.”
He further mentions, “People, it seems, are always looking for that one right mentor to help them get ahead. But in my experience, there is no one right mentor. There are many right mentors.”
He talks about his own life: “I had dozens of informal mentors over the course of my career, and each one taught me something important. My mentors ranged from the classic older and wiser executive to co-workers who were often younger than I was. Some mentoring relationships lasted a lifetime, others lasted just weeks.”
Managing relationships at work
Speaking from experience, I am going to assert that the importance of managing relationships at work is much too often undervalued and belittled.
However, we must remember that irrespective of the social status quo, we are all equals as humans. So, instead of maintaining distance, the focus of both the employers as well as employees should be diverted towards bridging gaps through collaboration and collective competence.
It is important to manage your relationship with your boss with the same attention and consideration as with your sub-ordinates. Keeping yourself level-headed will not only give you an opportunity to become a better employee, but also to become a better human above everything else.
Maisha Mehzabeen works at the Dhaka Tribune, and is an economics graduate.
