Comments on: How I Impress Older Coworkers

By: You Shouldn’t Be Afraid To Push Your Ideas : Brazen Careerist

You Shouldn’t Be Afraid To Push Your Ideas : Brazen Careerist — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:33:53 +0000

[...] all of my co-workers and bosses are Gen-X and Boomers has been challenging. On one hand it really hasn’t been difficult to impress them, but on the other hand there is no free-flow of ideas. All the people around me seem to think that [...]

By: Why You Shouldn’t Be Scared To Share Ideas « Young and Frugal

Why You Shouldn’t Be Scared To Share Ideas « Young and Frugal — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:40:20 +0000

By: jrandom

jrandom — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:42:23 +0000

In the beginning, questions are good. It gives you the chance to show your knowledge and expertise. This is a very good thing. Many of us have been in the business long enough to be skeptical of highly polished presentations.

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistingushable from a rigged demonstration.”

By: danielb

danielb — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:34:35 +0000

@jrandom

Looking at my post it definitely comes off as my trying to “put one over” on my bosses. That is not the case. I always double check my work and my numbers before presenting anything. I was merely trying to state that more questions rise if the work is not polished (not that questions are bad at all).

The list that you wrote is great, and very true. Thanks for the comment!

By: jrandom

jrandom — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:20:27 +0000

As the CIO of a growing midsize business, here’s how you can really impress older coworkers:

1. Be competent and do the job you were hired. I understand most new employees need some guidance on how things are done here, but please at least demonstrate the core skills for which you were hired.

2. Don’t blow smoke at your older coworkers. Polishing a piece of trash only leaves you with a polished piece of trash. You will be dealt with harshly (and in many cases, deservedly so) if you attempt to put one over on your older coworkers who’ve been here long enough to know the difference between real information and polished junk.

3. Ask relavent questions. Show an interest in the job at hand. We’re more than happy to show you our skill and competence.

4. Master the job at hand before you attempt to take mine. Showing too much ambition before you gain competence at your currrent position labels you as a person who will take any short cut to the top, without benefit of competence, insight or experience.

By: torbjornrive

torbjornrive — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:57:31 +0000

Yea, I totally agree with your first point, being business-aware especially in your own region. I love being the one to open my coworkers’, or even manager’s eyes to industry goings-on.

Another, as far as being pop in the workplace is to make good effort to be everyone’s friend. EVERYONE! You gotta be like a social arbitrator, bridging gaps between departments Etc.