5/30/2015–“Ceiling and visibly unrestricted” a.k.a. “CAVU”–an aviation term denoting a ceiling of > 10,000 ft. and visibility of > 10 miles. In other words, ideal flying conditions.
Also the name of the coffee shop I’m in, it triples as the situation in which I find myself after 4 days of my internship. Granted, I’ve delivered nothing yet, but I feel so well prepared by Manager Tools that I trust their guidance will carry me this summer. Specifically, three recommendations of theirs have been huge help so far.
First, taking notes on everything/carrying a notebook and pen has resulted in a significant database of names tied to kids, colleges, and titles. Second, having a 1:1 form for meeting ppl facilitated this more in depth and was validated by an effective superior of mine. Third, MT guidance to introduce myself to everyone earned my first FB+ from my boss. I owe so much already to them! My choice to seek guidance has resulted in this, but I’m constantly finding new sources of guidance and none match the value of Manager Tools.
I made a huge mistake, though. My first grad school HR elective covered maternity leave, and I didn’t pay attention as well as I could’ve. Sure, I may have accomplished less in other areas, but I should’ve considered the big picture–that I had a professor who was a renowned expert to learn from and was heading into an HR internship at a giant company! I stupidly disposed of the articles from class, instead of keeping them in case I would need them now. One of my projects is about maternity leave, so I regret.
This week continues to prove God has put effective tools near me, and my progress depends on my decision to use them.
QOTW: “I wrote you a long letter because I didn’t have time to write a shorter one.” Work training quoting Blaise
?FNW–Do I still have Cavu? Yes
11/15/2017 review–A quick recap of the three lessons: the first and third I still religiously follow. I always have a 3×4 spiral-bound notepad in my back pocket or jacket pocket for notes. I’m a relentless minimalist when it comes to organization. This is one “inbox” I’ve chosen; a channel for tasks to enter my system, the other three being phone, email, and meeting notes. The other lesson–introducing myself–I’ve found is oddly rare and seems to create memorable interactions. It’s odd because I acknowledge the split-second moment when one of us must decide to say hello or the moment passes. It’s crazy how it feels like the most natural thing to do, but only after making the introduction. Why or how do we culturally denature innate human behavior?
This is my favorite situation to be in. Starting something new, whether it is a job, relationship, or city has always been the most exciting and fulfilling experience. It may be the same for everyone, but there is a stark contrast in the level of expectations I feel after the newness wears off, once the “honeymoon stage” passes, as I’ve written before here. Duh! But while it sounds obvious, I’ve seen plenty of people in new situations worrying more about messing up when they begin vs once they get the hang of things. Is there a way to identify each type of person before they begin a job? Or, is there a benefit to doing so in a relationship? How would you act differently if you knew someone was either type? Conversely, how does self-awareness of your own type suggest how you should spend your first 90 days in something new? Maybe for those who front-load their anxiety, extra effort on fitting in with the team is appropriate? I look back and those I’ve known of this type naturally take care of the deliverable expected of a new person, and often over-delivered. On the flip side, people like me who develop performance anxiety and what’s called “impostor syndrome” over time need to start off asking “what’s my priority in this role?”, ideally in the interviews before starting. I don’t feel any stress during the beginning stages of things, so I’m prone to overlooking opportunities to get early, meaningful wins, even with the limited knowledge and relationships I have at the start.