A ‘Can-Do’ Attitude Can Help Compensate for Lean Background

Hurray for Generation Y! The future has promise.

Recently, I met two outstanding employees: Kate, a recent college graduate, and Jordan, a college senior working as a summer intern. It wasn’t years of experience that distinguished their work. And it wasn’t deep technical skills, although each demonstrated competence in the technical aspects of their work.

What made their work noteworthy was that Kate and Jordan had a “can-do” attitude, the ability to think critically, terrific interpersonal skills and a team approach to work.

This is not rocket science, nor are they things we haven’t heard before. So, why is it so refreshing?

When people behave this way, they distinguish themselves. They light up the room with their energy, solutions and spirit. And we, colleagues and managers, cherish them.

Clearly for these two young people, school was not just a solitary process of memorizing facts or doing the minimum to achieve a certain grade-point average. What Kate and Jordan learned in college beyond subject matter is helping them move from college to work.

Here are several career tips that might help you, whether you are an experienced employee seeking advancement, a recent graduate about to start a career, or a college student searching for the path to a meaningful life:

* Adopt a positive, can-do attitude. Employers want energetic, positive employees who are willing to learn, roll up their sleeves and take the initiative to get work done. Nobody likes being around a person who constantly whines, complains or just looks for problems. The same holds true at work. We don’t want to bury issues, but we can still constructively voice concerns and illuminate potential problems. Simply put, a negative attitude can limit a career, even for those with outstanding technical skills.

* Be a thinking, problem-solving employee. Think beyond just getting tasks done. Consider how your “to-do” list fits with organizational priorities. Look for any gaps in those priorities so you can take the initiative in seizing profitable opportunities or avoiding potential problems. Instead of asking for structure first to accomplish an assignment, think first about what you can actually deliver, critical steps, timing and resource requirements. And don’t forget about identifying similar projects that might help you define relevant methodologies, techniques and potential issues. Those who advance do so because they think critically and structure their work. When they encounter the inevitable roadblocks, they find solutions instead of giving up. Good decision-making and problem-solving require critical thinking, which is one of the keys to career advancement.

* Seek excellence and don’t just try to get by. Embrace new assignments and avoid the dreaded “It’s not my job” attitude. Great careers are based on a foundation of outstanding work and not doing the minimum. Exceptional employees consistently seek to do more than is required and more than is expected. For example, provide analysis when just asked for data, make recommendations along with a request for alternatives, and suggest next steps after every assignment. Good employees seek to run with their managers, if not help set the pace, rather than having to be pulled along.

* Hone interpersonal skills. Career success demands more than great technical skills and deep subject knowledge; you have to be able to relate to other people. You might know an accountant, graphics designer or recent college graduate who does technically great work but whose people skills have limited that person’s career opportunities. Listening, knowing the appropriate means (such as face-to-face versus e-mail) and timing of communication, having the ability to resolve conflict, and empathizing are key interpersonal skills. How can we build and sustain trust if others can’t relate to us? What is the cost of misunderstandings because of poor communication skills? Will there be tolerance for the inevitable mistakes if we lack the interpersonal skills to build strong relationships? Knowing how to nurture relationships is essential for career success.

* Strengthen team skills. Think about the Lakers last year versus this year’s championship team. Organizations understand the need for teamwork. Through the synergistic math of teamwork, one plus one can equal more than two. And yet we all too often observe selfish or distrustful behavior, which means one plus one equaling less than two. Team skills, such as putting team goals ahead of individual success, willingness to incur personal costs for the benefit of the team, sharing information and resources, taking the time to communicate, and putting animosities aside and working through conflict are vital ingredients for career advancement. As with the other career tips, “knowing” and “demonstrating” team skills are two different things.

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It’s not enough to recall facts, grasp subject matter and have strong technical skills. Success means doing your best every day, on every task; seeking solutions and not problems; and caring deeply about your team and teammates. Let’s be a source of organizational energy rather than ballast.

Let’s do more than is required and more than is expected. Let’s create joy in the workplace and help propel our organizations forward.

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Gary Izumo is a professor in the Moorpark College Business Department and has co-written “Keys to Workplace Skills.” He is a former McKinsey & Co. consultant and practice leader for the Strategic Management Consulting Practice of Price Waterhouse. You can e-mail him at [email protected].