During these days of constant workplace changes, sinking energy into the proper steps and decisions presented shouldn’t resemble your finger reaching down to pull the plug from a floating ship.
Sacrificed should never be the elements that which make up your hard work and dedication because what you do adds value to the process of rebuilding the legs that’ll help lift your company to safer territories. But what if your determination is spotted only by the highest decision maker leaving your immediate boss out of the picture?
What are the best methods and or work front manners to use when playing political hardball?
Anne Marie Sabath’s one minute solution to a possible irritation leans hard on you accepting the CEO’s compliment and invitation. It shows them that you’ve got tremendous interest in the continued success of the organization. Although the new position has come as a surprise to your immediate supervisor, Under Dog said it best, “There’s no need to fear!”
The best political move to make during restructured crunch time is to constantly keep your department head aware of changes that involve you.
Since we’re on the subject of company’s in the process of hacking off bottom line numbers…you’ve just learned a major downsizing is on the sidelines ready to enter the game, what is the proper method of gaining access to more information?
Anne Marie points her writing finger right at your nose. Put it on the grindstone while keeping your ears wide open. The most dangerous player on any team is the gossip hog. Once his or her vine sprouts flowers it allows rumors to grow like grapes. In order for you to remain positive, do all you can to dilute the sweet tempting flavor. Your near sighted view of the world should be focused on one thing: Remain an asset to your organization by continuing to be productive.
So what happens if the strings are cut? The thought of being without a job is heart wrenching and extremely damaging to families as well as the spirit to grow as a person. The awkward situation is based on trying to keep the attention of an employer; they spend several minutes with you only to never hear from them again…when is it cool to callback?
It’s not….drop the cell phone and pick up your laptop connected to a printer. No emails! No Twittering or Facebook! The ideal move to make when potential new boss Frank hasn’t responded to your efforts is to wait a week, then send a letter the old fashioned way. Well typed follow-ups echo an initiative and employers dig that.
In January of 1985 word has gotten to me in Montana about an up and coming Adult Contemporary radio station was hiring. I cut the top off a can of Coca Cola and stuffed my aircheck and resume inside. Two weeks went by. Rather than become disgruntled, I revisited the original idea sending this time an aircheck and resume in a Diet Coke can.
“How could I be so foolish? You’re on a diet!”
Still no response from the extremely busy program director…out of all the radio stations in the United States it had become my game plan to land a job in Charlotte, NC…my Ibanez Fly V guitar was on the line. I bet my friend Bryan that I’d get the call to move an entire nation away. He called me extremely conceited and felt a need to humble the radio man.
Dear Sir, obviously there’s tremendous static between your radio station and my ambition to become part of your future. I’m enclosing a resume and aircheck in this Bounce box because the makers of this product guarantee freshness and absolutely no static.
I arrived in Charlotte at 2:53 AM on March 11, 1985.
Two years later, Casey Kasum announced he was leaving American Top 40. How could a former Montanan doing a 7-midnight radio show in market number thirty five knock down the door of ABC Watermark Inc? I combed every drug store in town for the biggest most outrageous envelope known to man. It had to be tremendously oversized and colorful so that when it was laid on Tom Cuddy’s desk…he knew Arroe had arrived.
Forget about addressing it to Tom…blah blah blah…it read: I want Casey’s job! It earned me a call plus an audition. Shadoe Stevens landed the performance but who cares! I got the call!
Up until recently my greatest claim to fame is every little boys dream from the 1970’s to mid-1990’s….I produce professional wrestling radio commercials for Ric Flair! In some people’s eyes, it’s like standing next to Iron Man and Batman in the same suit. That momentous holy cow this is great moment was recently replaced by a single voice Mona Johnson-Gibson who asked me to help create a campaign for the nationally recognized and tremendously loved and supported Ronald McDonald House! How cool is that? The worlds most famous clown combined with his legendary unforgettably motivational work team.
I’m constantly asked, “How do these doors keep opening? It must be luck!”
Not so…letters…lots of follow up letters. A once living tree is very much alive when your words are sitting in front of someone on a sheet of paper.
Everything you do needs a follow up. From your CEO allowing you to grow in his business to being better prepared for corporate downsizing to unmasking the truth about why a potential employer hasn’t returned a call. Get ahead of the game by putting yourself ahead of them. Be the first to say, “Thank you.” Being so simple unlocks the door to places your dreams would love to grow.
Who taught me this? Andrew Ashwood…who sat us down daily to ask, “Where have you been and have you sent a letter of thanks? Even if the restaurant or clothing store is playing someone else’s radio station…thank them for listening to the radio. We can’t be the greatest radio station in town! It’s impossible to be everything to everyone. My only wish is to become one of the five buttons they push the moment they climb into the car….and you saying thank you is an unforgettable way for them to remember us.”
Steal his art…
arroecollins@clearchannel.com
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