Have you ever been so confounded by all the little rules at fancy events that you felt like ducking out early? Or, maybe you’ve been making some etiquette mistakes and not even known it. Whether we like it or not, etiquette is important in social situations, so it’s time to learn three quick tips:

Your nametag goes on the right side.

Accidentally putting your nametag on the left side isn’t going to make or break you, but it can show that you’re not very savvy. This is one of those things that if you get right, nobody’s going to say, “Did you see Katie? She put her nametag on the correct side!” However, they might notice if you’ve put it on the wrong side. Seriously. People do notice these things.

Why put it on the right? Well, there is a reason beyond simple etiquette. It’s supposed to be easier to read the nametag of the other person you’re shaking hands with their nametag is the right. Personally I haven’t found this to be particularly true, but I do it anyway.

I remember that it goes on the right by thinking it goes on the side opposite of the hand I use to write. I’m left-handed; therefore, it goes on the right. Obviously the same trick works if you’re right-handed - only it’s the hand you that you do write with.

 Your bread plate is to left and your drink is to the right.

You sit down at a luncheon for your professional organization, and you’re suddenly confronted with an onslaught of silver and glassware. What’s yours and what’s your neighbor’s can be a challenge to discern with all that stuff shoved on the table. This a very common problem, but it has a very simple solution.

Take your left hand and form an “o” with your forefinger and thumb. Then line up your other three fingers in a straight line. Now do the same with your right hand. Hopefully, your fingers look something like this:

                              b      d 

Your left hand, shaped like a “b” stands for bread. Your bread plate is to the left of your plate. Your right hand, shaped like a “d” stands for drink. Your drink is the one to the right of your plate.

Discretely put your hands under the table and form the letters. You’ll never drink out of the wrong glass again!

Signal you’re done eating by placing your fork and knife like parallel soldiers on your plate.

First of all, I should mention that your utensils should never touch the table after you first lift them off the napkin. You may rest them on the edge of your plate facing inward to signal you’re still chomping away.

To let the wait staff know you’re done, place your fork and knife parallel to one another and lay them across your plate at a 45-degree angle with the tops up. Check out my chopsticks after a delicious dinner of sushi.

While you’re at it, if you don’t want coffee, turn the mug over. You’ll be the savviest person in the room.

A couple days later you overhear a coworker saying, “Caitlin gave me some great tips on how to use the new phone system.” He then goes on to explain everything you, not Caitlin, had recently told him. You’re not upset, just a little dumbfounded as to why he thought Caitlin had explained it when it was clearly you.

What gives? Why are you apparently so forgettable?

Well, first of all, you’re probably not that forgettable. It’s just that people, in general, are pretty self-centered and aren’t necessarily paying that close of attention. In fact, the book Nudge claims that the chances of anyone noticing a stain on your shirt are slim to none. (Although that hilarious Tide commercial begs to differ.)

Basically, in a lot of cases, they don’t mean to ignore or forget you; it’s just their nature.

But, there are some things you can do to ensure that people do remember it was your idea:

Consider timing.
In the first example, it’s possible that the timing was all wrong. Some people need more time to digest information and your quick-thinking idea is just too much for them to absorb so soon. Wait until it makes sense in the conversation to bring up your thoughts, and don’t be afraid to say something like, “I still think that (insert idea) is the right decision here” when the conversation gets off track.

Speak effectively.
As we’ve already established, some folks have a harder time absorbing and considering material before they can completely process. As you explain your suggest, be clear about why you’re proposing it. For example, start by saying, “Going off of what Jim just said about the decline among the 40 and above population, why don’t we (insert brilliant idea).” By bridging the conversation, you’ve not only acknowledged that someone else contributed to your idea (a fact they will most likely remember), but you’ve also helped give the other people in the room a chance to digest the previous information and understand why your idea might actually be a good one.

Coin a phrase.
It sounds silly, but it seems to work. I have done this on accident a couple times, and let me tell you, people do not forget a new phrase word or its origin. It seems a little contrived, and admittedly, I’ve never tried in on purpose, but it certainly gets people’s attention. Don’t be afraid to invent something, like a phrase, that will help others remember your idea.

Wear something to stand out.
Again, perhaps a little contrived, but some people simply blend in and clothes can really help or hurt in this matter. If you’re wearing a gorgeous red necklace, your coworkers may have a better chance remembering it was you who spoke as opposed to the other people in the room wearing their plain gold chains.

Remind people.
Before giving anyone else a chance to steal your idea, remind everyone of it. “Like I was saying earlier, the problem seems to be x, and I’m proposing y as the perfect solution.” Another way is to send out an email to a few strategic people after the meeting, and say, “As I mentioned in the meeting, (insert idea) could be extremely helpful in this situation. I am currently doing some research on the subject and would love to lead this effort.”

Get respect.
This one takes some time. If you make a suggestion and then someone three levels above you makes the same suggestion, who do you think is going to get the credit? If you have the respect of your audience, no matter what level you’re on, the chances of them acknowledging your ideas are much greater.

Even if you follow the above advice, sometimes you just can’t seem to get anyone to acknowledge you. The question often posed is: Should I have mentioned in the meeting that I was the one who had the original idea? Should I correct the coworker who mistakenly quoted someone else when it was really me who was helpful?

Well, that can tricky.

First, check your ego. Is this just an ego thing? Is it really necessary to approach your coworker and let them know that it wasn’t Caitlin who helped with the phone system; it was you? Probably not. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and let someone else take the credit.

Other times, though, you should tactfully stand up for yourself:

Your future is at stake.
If your suggestion is potentially career-changing, it’s worth it to mention it. In some situations, it may be appropriate to talk to the person who took credit for your idea (seemingly not on purpose). “Hey, Bob, that was a great meeting. I think the (insert idea), is a great solution. I was trying to get to that earlier in the meeting, and I would be happy to sit down with you discuss this in detail before you present it to Kate.”

Other times, you may need to talk your boss. Be careful with this. You don’t want to seem like kindergartener: “But that was my idea first! I said it first! Why does Sue always get the credit?”

Someone is repeatedly not giving you credit.
This is an interesting situation because it makes it a little innocent. If someone is constantly giving credit to others for your ideas, suggests, and advice, you may need to talk it over with them.

Don’t be defensive. Say something like, “Hey, Kyle, I heard you mention that Christy is going to be heading up that big marketing project. I just wanted to let you know that I’m actually doing it. No worries; just wanted to be clear.”

Of course, if they’re purposely being a jerk, you’ve got bigger problems on your hands and need to get to the bottom of that first.

How to you remain unforgettable?

1. It’s not easy to be in charge.

Sometimes it’s easy to look at those above you and think “What an idiot! I could do so much better than them.” Well, maybe you could, but there’s probably a lot more to the situation that you don’t know. (Of course, it’s also possible that they are really are idiots.)

Rachel at IHateHR laments on the challenges of being a good supervisor, saying “In addition to worrying about yourself and your career you have to worry about others and their career.”

It’s not just supervisory challenges that makes climbing the ladder hard. Executives have to make a lot of tough decisions, including: hiring, firing, compensation; while also dealing with issues such as budgets, profits, crisis control, and a whole lot more.   

2. You’ll need a solid footing to make your way up there.

Whether you have the goal to run the company or to be a division manager, you won’t get there alone. Before you go anywhere, make strong support network:

• Your mentors. Get at least two mentors – one inside your workplace and one outside your office. You’ll be thankful you have them later on.
• Your fans. If you’re on your way to the top, you’ve probably earned the respect of quite a few of your co-workers. It’s best to have an idea of people who your fans are so they can help with your journey.

You should also consider making the case for your advancement – not only with your higher-ups but with your peers. Accept all praise that comes with your way. You may even want to go so far as to subtly announcing some of your accomplishments. “I’m so excited I landed the Johnson account today!”

3. There is such a thing as getting to the top too quickly.

If you’re unprepared, this could devastate your chances at future success, especially at that organization. Make sure you’re ready and stay ready by:

• Reading up. Staying on top of your industry and role will be important to your success. If you’re going for a managerial position, read up on good managerial skills.
• Staying educated. See if your employer is willing to send you to a course on whatever skills you may lack for the position you want. You can also check out some online resources.
• Asking others. In Stumbling on Happiness, Daniel Gilbert, claims that the most reliable way for people to know what to expect is to ask others who have been in the same situation. Seek out those who have taken the fast track before and find out what they went through. What do they wish they knew before setting out on the journey? What would they do the same? Differently?

 4. People will treat you differently.

Once you get there, one thing may become apparent to you – It’s lonely. If you’ve taken the advice from #2, you might now experience this as much. However, a lot of young managers notice little things, like their peers no longer want to eat lunch with them.

Here are a few tips to deal with this:

• Give your co-workers a chance to digest your newfound position.
• Don’t gloat or abuse your power. (Ever.)
• Let your team know that you’re still a member of the team and their interests are your interests.

5. Some people won’t like it.

While many, many people have to deal with envy at work, the young and ambitious can be a strong target. Again, if you’ve set the stage, your sudden (or even gradual) ascent to the top may not be a shock to your fellow co-workers. However, no amount of preparation can prepare for the full range of human emotions your success might provoke.

In the most recent issue of Psychology Today, Judith Sills, Ph.D. in “When Green is Mean,” says “Envy is almost universally provoked by exceptional achievement.” She goes on to talk about her co-workers “sniping, cold, and critical” reaction to a best-selling book she wrote and how she was not prepared for that kind of reaction.

Whether it’s envy, sadness, anger, or a different emotion altogether, be prepared to accept that not everyone will be your fan. (Don’t worry - you’ll have plenty who will be your fans, too.)

So, should you do it?

Heck, yes, you should! While it’s a good idea to know what you’re getting in to, you shouldn’t let that hold you back from success.

Please share your own experiences or thoughts in the comments section.

If you’ve ever worked in an office where giving praise was taboo, you understand how important it can be to morale, and ultimately, success. Managers can get so wrapped up in the details of the day that praising an employee for their work can simply be overlooked. Below are some tips to ensure that your team is effectively praised:

Praise Tip #1: Understand how different employee might want to receive praise.

Some people would love to receive a plaque in front of the entire company to showcase their accomplishments; others are squeamish at the mere thought of being praised in this manner.

It’s important to understand that different employees want different kinds of praise. For some employees, a simple “That was a great presentation” would suffice, while others may need an email to go out to the big boss sharing the accomplishment. There’s nothing wrong with either form of praise (just keep in check; see tip #3); it’s all about what will work best for each individual employee. Certainly praise that makes an employee uncomfortable will not have the desired outcome.

Praise Tip #2: Be specific.

Just like when providing criticism, it’s important to be specific when giving praise. After a normal day of work, saying “Good job today,” probably has little impact on an employee. That’s because they have no idea what you’re talking about. They’re working on four separate projects and performed dozens of tasks. What exactly did they do to deserve their praise?

The more specific you are with your praise, the better chance you have of the employee repeating the good work. After all, if they understand what they’re doing right, they can do their best to replicate the work.

Praise Tip #3: Not everything needs to be praised.

Just because someone shows up to work, doesn’t mean they should automatically get praised for everything they do. It’s a job, and they get paid to do it. Not every task needs, or quite frankly deserves, praise. By saving praise for times when it’s especially pertinent, it will have a stronger, more meaningful impact.

Bonus tip: Some employees need more praise than others and may even ask for praise. It’s important to explain that while you appreciate all the work they do, you simply can’t praise them for every task. Assure them that you will praise them for major accomplishments.

Praise Tip #4: Be fair.

Most offices have “superstar” employees. Because of their superstar status, they probably get a lot of praise. Be careful about publicly praising one member of your team too much and too often. In many cases, the superstar should be praised in private as to not make the other employees upset over someone else’s opulent praise. Of course, occasional public recognition for these individuals is probably necessary to motivate both the team (to do better) and the superstar (to continue).

However, like my fellow generational straddlers (I was born in 1981), I’ve noticed there are many differences between my younger Gen Y counterparts and me.

And, then it hit me. I’m like Gen Y’s big sister.

Being a big sister is something I’m very familiar with. My three younger brothers (all Gen Yers) would be more than willing to tell you that I have taken the role of big sister very seriously (sometimes a little too seriously).

Like any good big sis, I have some advice for you. But, first, please allow me to indulge in the differences betweens Xers, Yers and me, a ‘tweener:

• While I don’t quite have the infamous Gen X cynicism, I did love Nirvana and Pearl Jam and owned a flannel shirt or two.
• I was all about chat rooms in 1995, but didn’t really discover blogs until 2007.
• Napster was all the rage in college, but cell phones weren’t an absolute necessity yet (we used calling cards to call home).
• I remember Kennedy on MTV, but My Super Sweet Sixteen is totally and completely beyond me (and I hope you, too, Gen Y).
• I actually don’t mind working 50-60 hours a week because I’m doing something I enjoy; I have no desire to be a clock watcher.
• My parents are very important to me, but they wouldn’t dream of calling my teacher over a bad grade (or I wouldn’t dream of allowing them, at least).
• I’ve worked at the same job for 4½ years, but I’ve been promoted twice.

These are just a few of the many differences between me, and I believe my fellow ‘tweeners, and Gen X and Y. Of course, this list includes a lot of generalizations. But, after reading a ton of Gen Y blogs (which I do, by the way, consider my blog to be a part of), I’ve realized that either (1) these generalizations are, in fact, mostly true, or (2) you’ve totally bought into what others are saying about you and you’re perpetuating many of these generalizations.

Now, for the advice:

1.  Don’t discount the advice of your Gen X and Gen Y ‘tweener elders.
Yes, you love your baby boomer parents. We all do. But, many of us younger than Baby Boomers have been in the workforce a little longer (some a lot longer than others) and believe it or not, we’ve picked up a few nuggets that may be of interest to you. Learn from our mistakes. By the way, you do have a lot to learn, whether you know it or not (we all do).

2.  Keep touting your own horn.
I love the confidence of Gen Y. When you exude confidence, people buy what you’re selling. It’s ok to let everyone know how great you are (we’re all special, right?) as long as you do it with tact and grace. Remember that not everyone will be so thrilled with you touting your own horn (especially those who have done your job in the past), so some discretion may be necessary. That said, if you’re great at something, there’s no shame in letting everyone know it.

3.  You can change your company; just work slowly.
Gen Y is all about changing the rules to fit their lifestyle. Flip flops to work? Sure, why not? Come and go as I please? Of course! But, the rules that are in place now have been in place for quite some time. Let’s face it. Most people will not look kindly when some kid comes in and starts changing things up. As much as you don’t want to hear it, you are going to have to prove yourself. Once you’ve done that, you can start systematically changing the rules.

4.  Show them you care.
Before you go on “free Facebook” campaign at work, make sure you’ve shown your employer you care about the company. Yes, some rules are stupid. Yes, you should be allowed to Twitter whenever you want. But, look at it from employer’s perspective. How are you impacting their bottom line? How are you helping them improve? How can you do this and still get on Faceback and Twitter throughout the day?

Not new to the job? There’s something in this list for everyone; whether it’s your first year on the job or your tenth year on the job.

1. Set goals for the year.
2. Start an A-List.
3. Sit down with your boss to discuss your future.
4. Learn the names of at least 100 in your office (or everyone in your office if you have fewer than 100 people)
5. Ask to give a presentation.
6. Then give the presentation.
7. Participate in or organize a co-worker happy hour.
8. Have only one drink at the happy hour.
9. Become friends with someone in a different department.
10. Buy lunch for a co-worker.
11. Take a risk.
12. Take a vacation.
13. Pick the brain of a senior manager (or two).
14. Find a mentor.
15. Join a professional organization.
16. Give to charity.
17. Volunteer at a charity.
18. Volunteer for company committee.
19. Join a company-sponsored program, club or event.
20. If you don’t have a company-sponsored program, club or event, start one.
21. Read the entire HR handbook from front to back.
22. Review your goals to see if you’re on track.
23. Search for your role within the company.
24. Accomplish something that isn’t in your job description.
25. Start a 401K.
26. Put a portion of your salary directly into savings.
27. Get a financial planner.
28. Spruce up your wardrobe.
29. Do your job really well.
30. Tell your boss how well you’re doing.
31. Thank anyone who helps you with anything.
32. Don’t thank people who don’t actually help you.
33. Admit to your mistakes.
34. Find a hobby for outside the office.
35. Take a day off and do nothing.
36. Update your résumé.
37. Ask how you’re doing.
38. Take initiative.
39. Brainstorm ways you can fix company problems.
40. Pitch an idea.
41. Identify your personality type.
42. Identify your boss’ personality type.
43. Adapt your communication style to others.
44. Learn a new skill.
45. Reach out to senior people within the industry.
46. Subscribe to an industry magazine or newspaper.
47. Reference something you learn in the magazine or newspaper in conversation.
48. Redefine your goals as you grow.
49. Be pleasant to someone who rubs you the wrong way.
50. Stand up for yourself.
51. Defend your work when questioned.
52. Smile when you don’t want to.
53. Make a suggestion on a project you’re not directly involved in.
54. Make an important decision and stick by it.
55. Look for ways to delegate work you don’t like doing or aren’t good at.
56. Read a self-improvement book or subscribe to a self-improvement blog.
57. Ask your boss how you can improve.
58. Start improving.
59. Ask your boss what you have to do to get a raise.
60. Then do it.
61. Ask a lot of questions.
62. Prove your results.
63. Question rules and decisions.
64. Push the limits of your role.

What other suggestions do you have for people who want to make a name for themselves at work?

Instead of feeling intimidated, I felt proud and almost powerful. Here is I was this young fresh faced woman in an important meeting. It was exciting.

As we went through the meeting, I shared a couple thoughts, answered questions when asked, but for the most part, I sat quietly taking it all in. Then, at the end of a particularly deep discussion, one of the guys turned to me and said, “Angela, what do you think?”

I thought for a moment, reflecting on the last ten minutes of conversation, and I said:

“I agree.”

Not surprisingly, the room erupted in laughter.

I quickly tried to recover, giving the reasons why I agreed, practically shouting over the laughter. But, it was too late, they had already concluded that I had nothing to offer but, “I agree.”

These two simple words screamed to everyone the room: I’m young and I don’t really know what I’m talking about so I’ll just go ahead and agree with what all of you older, wiser men have to tell me.

I really did agree with what the decisions being made, but I would have been much better off saying something like, “While I agree with the overall decision, here a few things I’d suggest…”

Additionally, had I been more vocal throughout the meeting they wouldn’t have had to ask — they would have already known my opinion.

I didn’t do everything wrong, though:

• I was confident.
• I was prepared. I was able to intelligently answer questions thrown my way.
• I gave suggestions (although probably not as many as I should have).
• I was focused. I knew exactly what was going on and none of it was out of my league.

As for the men in the meeting who laughed at my two-word answer… Thank You. Thank you for challenging me, for reminding me that my opinion is important no matter my age, and for driving me to never act like a “yes-girl” again.

There are two schools of thought around messy desks,

and interestingly they both have to do with the mind:

1. A clear desk is a sign of an empty mind.
2. A messy desk is a sign of a cluttered mind.

These two popular sayings make it clear that your desk is (at least perceived) as an extension of you, of your mind, of your organization, of your life. In fact, 67% of our co-workers are in some way judging us for our messy desks, according to an Ajilon study.

But, what if you’re just naturally messy? What if you actually thrive on a cluttered work space? Will you be deemed as an unorganized, incompetent fool just because of a few stacks of paper? Or, will people see past the clutter and see you for the professional you really are?

Diagnosing the mess

The first step is diagnosing your mess. Is it worth fighting for or is time to clean up your act?

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Are you able to easily locate items in your mess?
2. Would your co-workers agree that when they ask for a specific piece of paper on your desk you can find it quickly as if it had been filed in the drawer?
3. Do you feel more organized in clutter than with files?
4. Do you have a system of order even though your desk looks like chaos?
5. Would professional contacts not familiar with your office mess, such as external customers, assume that your desk was clean and neatly organized based on your high level of professionalism and organizational level when communicating with them?

If you answered yes to all five questions, congratulations! You’re creatively organized. That’s right. Not messy. Creatively organized. Try it out.

If you answered no to these questions, you’re probably just lazy and it’s time to clean your desk. Your clutter is not controlled and therefore is probably hurting you and your professional reputation. Clean it up.

If you’re new to the organization, it doesn’t matter how you answered the questions; try your best to keep it clean. During your first 90 days, you’re being heavily scrutinized for all aspects of your job. Keep your desk as clean and clear as possible (trust me, I know this is hard for you if you’re not naturally a neat freak). Don’t let your desk stand in the way of building a solid reputation. Once you’re established, read on to find out how you can have your messy desk and the corner office, too.

Don’t let your “creative organizational system” mess with your image

Your professional image is extremely important to your career, and unfortunately for those of us who are creatively organized, how we keep our office is a part of that. To many people, a messy desk is a sign of disorganization at best and complete incompetence at worst. So, if your desk is the messiest in the office, you’ve got some work to do to counteract the negativity that goes along with clutter.

Look Clean

If your desk appears to be out of control, your look should be extremely put together. I don’t want to sound like an etiquette book, but pay special attention to the details of your appearance – hair, clothes, nails, shoes. You should look impeccable, even if your office looks anything but.

Be Confident

Other people pick up on your confidence. If you’re confident and prepared, people will take notice. Your confidence will overpower any strewn about paper.

Do Your Job Well

If you’re performing extremely well at your job, it’s a lot harder for management to harp on you for something as inconsequential as your messy desk. At the same time if your work is less than stellar, your desk will most likely end up being a huge source of contention.

Watch It

Don’t let your creative organizational system get out of control. Every once in a while, you’ll need to straighten up. If your cubicle is as an unofficial stop of the company tour because of the piles of paper to the ceiling and you have to jump over the desk to get to your chair, you’re probably getting a rap you don’t want.

Be Proud

A lot of people hate clutter. They can’t possibly understand that your messy desk really is organized. They don’t get that you’re more productive with your piles and they help you think clearer and more creatively. They’re wired differently. That, combined with a general stigma against messiness, may cause coworkers to act less than friendly toward your mess. Stay strong. Explain that you actually have a system, it just doesn’t look like theirs.

Be Smart

If you’re dealing with sensitive data, leaving it strewn about your desk is probably not the best idea. If your main business involves customers visiting your office, it’s probably best to keep as clean and clear as you can. Be smart about your creative organizational system. If something should be filed away in the drawer, file it.

Why don’t you just clean it?

If you’re wondering right now if it’s just easier to clean your desk and keep it clean, then you don’t truly understand what it means to be naturally creatively organized. It’s not really a choice you make to be messy. It’s a choice you make to file it all away and keep your desk clear. There are actually benefits to having a creatively organized desk. Many people find it stimulating and helpful to be surrounded by their work. If you’re not one of these naturally messy people, I encourage you to keep an open mind when dealing with those who are.

Have your messy desk and your CEO office, too

It’s unfortunate that messy desks (and their owners) get such a bad rap. But, fear not: Messy people can be just as successful as neat freaks. According to a New York Times article, “Studies are piling up that show that messy desks are the vivid signatures of people with creative, limber minds (who reap higher salaries than those with neat “office landscapes”)…”

You may have to push a little harder and be a little smarter, but there’s no reason why you can’t be the CEO and have a creatively organized desk. Use your creative talents to get there.

photo credit: elliottcable

BNET is a great resource that I highly recommend for business professionals - new and seasoned. You’re sure to find fresh insight on a variety of topics, including management, strategy, and worklife.

Who should visit: inquisitive professionals, managers

Why I like it: It keeps me up-to-date on workplace issues and is an excellent resource for business professionals. Many of the articles are interactive and usually provide additional resources.

Downside: I’ve recently run into a bunch of broken links on their older articles, but you can submit them to be fixed.

MarketingProfs: Smart thinking… pass it on.

I believe everyone in a company plays a part in marketing whether you work in the actual marketing department or not. Admittedly, I don’t visit this site as often as I used to when I really did work in marketing, but I still find it useful. I do subscribe to the newsletter and have find many useful pieces of advice throughout the years.

Who should visit: creative workers, professionals interested in adding new ideas to the workplace

Why I like it: This site provides actionable ideas and advice, and I love actionable!

Downside: It’s very focused on premium accounts and membership - but they’re a business, you can’t blame them for that!

CareerBuilder

While CareerBuilder is an excellent resource when seeking a new job, it also has plenty of articles on a variety of common workplace issues. Check out the new CareerBuilder Institute which offers online training, some of it free. I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks like it could a very useful resource.

Who should visit: job seekers, people seeking professional opportunities

Why I like it: This site was an invaluable resource to me while I was searching for my current position. I learned a great deal about cover letters, job searches and a lot more.

Downside: Not sure, but if you come up with one let me know.

What sites do you find useful?

If you had an A-List, or an accomplishment list, you wouldn’t have this problem. You would have a list of your projects and results on hand to choose from. This article will discuss why you need an A-List and how to effectively create one.

Duties vs. Accomplishments

Depending on your job you may be used to tracking your daily duties for billable purposes or just company policy. This kind of tracking usually consists of time spent on certain projects and isn’t necessarily a reflection of your actual accomplishments. An A-list is different; instead of focusing on your duties, it focuses on your accomplishments.

These examples help illustrate the difference between duties and accomplishments:

Duty: Spent 3 hours on “Going Green” project
Accomplishment: Led team of eight on “Going Green” project for prominent client.

Duty: Worked on marketing budget for one hour a month
Accomplishment: Negotiated professional service fees, saving company 10% on budget

Duty: Wrote story on website
Accomplishment: Developed and implemented widget on website that increased web traffic by 50% and decreased bounce rate by 35%

Why keep an A-List

Once a year during performance reviews, employees sit down at their computers and try to think of everything they’ve done throughout the year. Every project they worked on. Every project they led. Every idea they suggested. Every time they went beyond expectations. If you only think about your accomplishments once a year, you=’re bound to forget something, or more than likely, a lot of things. It’s in your best interest to track your accomplishments throughout the year; you never know when you’re going to need them.

Here are a few examples:

Raises
There is no stronger case for a raise than your accomplishments. Your employer is only going to give you a raise if you add value to the company, and you’re going to need proof. A list of concrete accomplishments will help you prove your worth.

Promotions
What better way to prove you can handle more responsibility than by showing what you’re already doing? Show off everything you’ve accomplishments and you’ll be making a great case for more.

Resume
Potential employers want to see results. They don’t care that you worked on a project; they want to see the results of that project. How did you improve the business? What will you bring to the table?

“Rainy Day” Reminder
It sounds silly, but there are days when everything seems to be going wrong. You sent out the wrong email or you didn’t meet your sales goals. After you fix the issue, pull out your A-List and feel good about all the things you have done right.

What to include on your A-List

As the name implies, you should include all of your accomplishments, big and small. The A-List is a private list that you will review and pare down before using as ammo for a raise or another position, so you should record everything you do that is even remotely considered an accomplishment. You can always take it off the list if it doesn’t work out or doesn’t stand up the rest of your accomplishments.

When you’re thinking of what to put on your A-List, be creative. Ask yourself:

• How do I save the company money?
• How do I bring more money to the company?
• How do I help your co-workers do their jobs better?
• How am I a leader?
• What do people praise me for?
• How have I improved?
• How have I improved the relationship with our clients?
• How have I gone above and beyond the call of duty?
• How do I value to my company?

Here are a few other ideas for your A-List:

Ideas proposed
Keep track of all the ideas you suggest, even if they don’t go anywhere.

Ideas implemented
Record all of the ideas that were actually implemented. How did they help the company?

Problems solved
Employers love to know that you can solve problems of all kinds. Jot down the problem, the steps you took to solve it, and the end result.

Projects led
Leadership is a key quality for employers. Record the projects you led and other leadership roles you’re in. Results are especially important to show your quality of leadership.

Client and co-worker praise
Although not measurable, keep a file for all praise that you receive, even if it’s just a one-line email from a co-worker.

How to track your A-List

Use whatever method you’re comfortable with to track you’re A-List. It could be a simple as a small notebook, as complicated as an access database, or as technology-driven as www.backpackit.com.

There are three things you definitely want to track:

1. The project/idea/problem: What is the basic premise of the accomplishment?
2. Your role: How did you participate in the project?
3. The result, preferably measurable: What was the end result of the program?

There’s no need to spend a lot of time working on your list; it should take just a couple minutes at the week to jot down your projects and ideas. Any longer could be a waste of your time.

Final Thoughts

You may be accomplishing a lot more than you even realize. If you run into trouble filling out your A-List or you don’t think you accomplish anything, you should take a long, hard work at yourself and your job. Once you start your list, it will become natural to record this information. Remember, you’re the only one who will be seeing the list, so there’s no need to hold back.