Professional Development
Three work essentials: Rock, Paper, Scissors
Here’s some advice: Solve all of your work disputes with a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.
It’s quick. It’s simple. It’s fair.
Just Kidding.
We’re not talking about childhood games; we’re talking about making things happen at work using three essential tools for Rockstars: scissors, paper, and rocks.
Scissors.
Cut things up. Change. Innovate.
Innovation is more than just coming up with an idea. It’s changing a process; it’s improving, in our case, business. It’s ensuring that your great idea comes to fruition.
How can you, as a young professional, innovate? That depends on your business, but you can start by answering these questions:
- What process can you change to save your firm money?
- How can you improve a business process?
- How can your company improve relationships with customers?
- What other revenue-generating methods can you develop for your organization?
- How can your company increase productivity?
- What new project would improve business?
- What external problems does your company have?
- What internal problems does your company have?
- If you were in charge, what would you do differently?
Innovation expert Jim Carroll suggests companies and individuals adopt the “Six C’s to Innovation,”:
- Curiosity
- Creativity and rebellion
- Collaboration
- Change
- Courage
- Create excitement every day!
But, Jim warns that with innovation often comes failure. The good news is that failure fuels learning, which, in turn, fuels more innovation. Innovation takes determination, courage, and some thick skin. Larry Ellison, founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation, was quoted as saying, “When you innovate, you’ve got to be prepared for everyone telling you you’re nuts.” So, prepare yourself, but that’s no reason not to try something.
Here are some other suggestions for innovation:
- Be open. Simply opening your mind to the possibilities can lead to innovation.
- Read new things. Try picking up something new to read, something you would normally pass right over.
- Brainstorm or mindmap. Whatever strategy works best for you; sit down and start thinking up solutions.
- Listen. What are people saying about your industry or product?
- Search the web. What’s new in your industry? How are others innovating business?
Yes, I know, there’s a lot bureaucracy (especially at larger companies) standing in your way. But, don’t let that hold you back! Surely, there’s something, somewhere in your organization where you be innovative, make a lasting change that impacts the bottom line. Cut things up.
“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” – Steve Jobs
Paper.
Money, money, money.
You need to make it, but it’s getting hard to come by these days. Now may not be the best time to ask for raise (or it may be the perfect time, depending on your industry), but that doesn’t mean you can’t consider your opportunities.
Three things Rockstars know about money:
Rockstars know what they’re worth.
If you work at a really progressive company, you might have transparent salaries, but most of us don’t have that luxury. You can find out what a typical salary looks like in your field through sites like Indeed and Salary. But, Rockstars know it goes beyond salary. They understand the value of their work and expect fair compensation (be it - vacation, insurance, travel, perks) in return.
Rockstars don’t wait for money to fall in their laps; they make it.
Rockstars don’t waste their time waiting for others to make their dreams come true (money dreams, career dreams, life dreams); they make it happen for themselves. They’re starting up side businesses, launching their own businesses, making a name for themselves.
Rockstars may not be all about the money, but they understand it’s important.
Are there more important things than money? Most definitely. But, Rockstars know it has its place.
“Money, if it does not bring you happiness, will at least help you be miserable in comfort.” – Helen Gurley Brown
Rock.
Be good at everything and rock at your thing.
You’ve been hearing that in a tough economy like ours, you need learn to be a jack-of-all-trades, pick up the slack. That may be true, but you can still rock your niche. In a recent post, Dan Schawbel suggests you can become a specialist and a generalist.
Your specialty doesn’t necessarily have to your job, per se. It could be one part of your job. Let’s say you work in marketing. You’re knowledgeable on things marketing and you can do pretty much anything anyone asks you to do in marketing. But, what you love, what you’re great at, is viral marketing. Viral marketing, while only a small part of your job, is your specialty. Any time anyone needs anything to do with viral marketing, they know you’re the go-to person. But, you’re still good at all other aspects of marketing. You can rock your thing, but you can do anything!
Five ways to rock your niche:
- Read everything. Get to know your specialty inside and out. Your goal is to be the best and that takes learning.
- Understand the trends. Things change. It’s important to stay on top of the latest news and trends. Don’t be left behind.
- Prove yourself. Before you can prove yourself as the niche Rockstar that you are, you’ll need to prove it.
- Market your knowledge. You know a lot about your specialty (heck, you’ve read everything about it!). Start letting others know just how much you know.
- Educate others. Teaching is the best way to show that you can truly rock your niche!
Rock it.
Got something to add? Every time you comment on a Girl Meets Business post during The YP Rockstar series in January, you will be entered to win a one-year membership to the WE 4 LIFE coaching program (a $588 value!) provided by Jenny Ferry of Crest of Your Life. Share your thoughts and be a Comment Rockstar!
Discussion
7 comments for “Three work essentials: Rock, Paper, Scissors”
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Best post yet! I love the Scissors idea, and I love love that it includes to “be open”. Sometimes I get stuck in my own ideas, thinking, oh, we have to do it my way, why are people afraid of change, when really it’s ME who is afraid of the change of doing it somebody else’s way!
@MissPinkKate That’s really a great point. We need to be open to all good ideas - whether they’re ours or not. That’s certainly not say that ALL ideas are worth it, but at least being open is important.
Brilliant list of questions for innovating. Put in the context of an organization’s strategy, they’ll make it possible for anyone to make a contribution.
My Gen Y colleagues tell me that too few of their generation understand corporate strategy. But your questions push the issue in that direction.
Kudos for your post
With regards to saving my company money - I have a strange request for advice. I’m presently freelancing, and I would really like to translate it into a staff job.
There’s a job open that’s a pay grade or two above me, and there are a couple of requirements I can’t fill. But I can do the bulk of what’s required very well, and be trained to do the rest.
Would it be worth it to talk to the hiring manager and supervisor for the job (both of whom I’m familiar with) and see if I could talk them into downgrading the job so I could be hired for it?
I’m cheap labor, talented and good at my job, and easily trained. I know I’d do a great job, I know my coworkers are comfortable with me. But I don’t want to try anything that might be out of line.
Great advice. I made it a point to be a young professional rock star at my last internship. Because of this, I gained the respect of my coworkers and superiors and was given a lot of great projects to work on.
It’s really important to show initiative and go the extra mile.
I look forward to reading the rest of the Young Professional Rock Star posts.
[...] be greedy (not that you would!): Get paid what your worth, but do something you love in the process. If you can’t do something you love from nine to five [...]
This is an awesome post. I like the imagery and practical application.