Ask a Question!

Beginning a new job is always an insightful experience. You’re the “newbie,” most want to know where you came from, who you are, what are your likes and dislikes but most of all, what you can do for them! Learning new systems and getting technology and access for your work to be completed can be a job in itself especially during your first few days on the job. Of course, many of the experiences you’ll have in your first few days will almost have a direct correlation with who you befriend on the job initially and what approach you’ll have to work being assigned to you in the coming weeks. These few introductory moments have passed now and you’re handed your first extended assignment, the only issue is you’re not familiar with any of the systems or terminology your group is known for and the work you can produce at that current moment will never be at the level you actually want it to be (regardless of how you slice it).

Fortunately and unfortunately, this is an experience I’ve had recently with me believing that I have to be the go — to person for EVERYTHING! The world is tipping on your shoulders and you feel as if you cannot make any mistakes. You begin to doubt your abilities and the piece of paper you received after you completed 124 credits at an accredited four — year institution! Your life is over, isn’t it?….Wake Up! You cannot forget that you are the newbie and that you were never expected to know even half of the terminology that is spewed throughout the office and/or the systems used daily.

The one thing you can do and this may sound cliche but I need you to keep an open mind while you read this (this is a bombshell), this is a secret no one knows. You desperately need to ASK QUESTIONS! You can only be human and almost no one was born with heightened senses enough to read the minds of their direct manager along with their other co — workers. If you believe you don’t need to ask questions then something might actually be wrong with you (I happen to know of a few people who can help you with that). Confidence is innate in some people, taught to others, but is a driving factor in communication as well. Having this newbie mentality asking your manager how you can make some thing more efficient or if you can join a few more meetings will only continue to build the collaborative side of you that needs to develop. I will never stop learning and you shouldn't either, we all make split decisions, but it is the follow — up that counts 10x more. If your assigned that same task again, not only will you complete it but you’ll remain committed to what the next steps could potentially be.

I’ll be the first to admit that I still struggle with my own maintenance, I want to know everything right now and sometimes one can lose sight of the big picture instead of focusing on the small tasks and developing into a more seasoned professional, certainly in their respective roles. What are the next steps for anyone currently experiencing this situation? (That is a question I’ll ask myself from time to time to make sure I remain sharp in my quest for success)

Ask questions (Believe that there aren't any stupid questions, questions unanswered are only questions that were never asked, once you clarify a few things in your mind pertaining to that specific subject, Ask away! Never come to the table empty — handed.)
Feedback (You cannot read your manager’s mind and your manager cannot read yours, please don’t make any assumptions when it comes to something you completed or turned in for review)
Provide a Solution (I’ll be the first to admit that I’m guilty of not being consistent in this arena, I try to not only ask questions but provide further clarification out loud to hopefully assist my manager in assisting me.) Be Consistent! It will only help smoothen your transition, you may not know the answer but you’ll definitely be able to find out in the very near future.
Questions Birth Changes (If you continue to question why something is the way it is, chances are someone made an error along the way and if you’re the individual who leads that change you will only be looked at in a positive light and a person who sees things differently than others.) I want this for myself more than a lot of other adventures I have mapped out. The ability to question something can’t be taught, one has to feel that what he / she is questioning can potentially make a difference. The norm will never be the norm if you don’t want it to be.

It’s been a pleasure writing to you all, I hope you learned something from my recent experiences and hopefully you can apply a portion of it to your own lives as well. Continue to smile, happiness trumps all in the face of adversity! That is all I want for you.