When I hit my 21st anniversary at a company I stayed with for 25 years, a friend asked me how it felt. I was not sure how to answer that, so I created a list of tips for longevity. Honestly, these are tips for thriving in the workplace and are as important to me now after eight months at The Anti [now Stridepath Consulting] as they were after 20+ years with my previous employer.
- Make sure you are learning all the time. This helps you stay challenged and keeps you developing new skills. In 25 years I had many different roles, each building upon the previous one’s skills. Today, working with ServiceNow HRSD keeps me on my toes. Each customer has different requirements and this amazing team that I work with rises to each challenge. Just remember that if you feel stuck, it may be time to find a new project or role before your skills stagnate.
- There will be some bad days. Not every day has been perfect over the course of my career, but most have been good. It is certainly easier to get out of bed if you enjoy what you are doing, or who you are working for, but sometimes you get out of bed because you are thankful to have a job. We are fortunate at The Anti [now Stridepath Consulting] to have a leadership team that cares about us in ways I have not experienced at other companies. Make sure you have more days when you like what you are doing and who you are working for than those other ones.
- Learn diplomacy. People are going to rub you the wrong way. You do not have to have a beer with them after work, but do you have to get along while at work. Swallow your pride, knock the chip off your shoulder, and deal with it. If you do not, someone watching might think you are being petty. That other person is never worth losing your job over.
- Speak your mind. This is a tough one because it can be scary and there can be repercussions, but most people appreciate honesty. I am lucky to work with a team that is not afraid to challenge each other. This helps us work towards better outcomes for our clients. Do not be afraid to disagree with someone, but remember to pick your battles and of course, do it diplomatically.
- Have fun! Decorate your workspace. Even in this age of working from home you want to surround yourself with things that make you happy. You are at work at least 1/3 of your day so make sure you can keep a smile on your face. Remember to get up periodically to move, stay hydrated, and be kind to yourself.
The bottom line is to enjoy what you are doing and recognize that nothing is perfect, so only you can control your reactions and interactions. And make friends, you might want to have that drink when you meet in person.
For more information or to schedule a call with our team, drop a note to LetsGo@stridepath!
About the Author: Hayley Green has over 30 years experience in technical customer support, including 23 years experience in IT as Service Desk Manager, Network Engineer, Business Systems Analyst, Project Manager, and Software Developer. Most recently, she worked in Managed Services, developing enhancements, troubleshooting issues, answering clients’ questions, and mentoring other team members. She is passionate about providing excellent customer service and has been added to customer accounts that needed extra attention to improve a customer satisfaction score.
