Image courtesy of Blondin Rikard’s photostream
In today’s world, we are all connected. Through Facebook, co-workers, and family, it seems the six degrees of Kevin Bacon has become a reality in our lives. Because of this, it is crucial to make sure your relationships in life continue or at least end on a great note. Everybody knows everyone and that includes your current or future boss. Here are four tips to ensure you leave a lasting impression in your life now and in the future, personally and professionally:
1. The Golden Rule trumps all: We have all heard this classic saying since before we actually understood its meaning; treat others as we would like to be treated. Empathy, understanding, and the ability to tune out scandal and drama are key factors in following the Golden Rule. Make a point to treat all the people in your life under the Golden Rule and it will pay forward in future relationships.
2. Keep it to yourself: There are two parts to this. 1. Keep your problems to yourself. Don’t tell the next person that walks into the lunchroom your personal predicaments. 2. Don’t spread the water cooler gossip around more than it already has been. We all know that this is much easier to preach than practice, but if you attempt to keep this idea in the forefront of your mind, you’ll find your day isn’t as stressful. You may even find that fellow employees and family turn to you for actual advice, now that they have deemed you trustworthy. Your work and personal relationships will benefit from this immensely.
3. When you leave a job, leave the right way: It is well known that a two week notice is common practice in the workplace when leaving a job. But consider these other details and make sure to address them within that time-frame. Be sure to personally deliver a professional letter of resignation to your HR Department, Supervisor, and Director. You have worked with these people and quite possibly developed a personal relationship. They deserve a respectful ending. Make sure your work area is how you found it when you leave-clean, organized, and well stocked. Most importantly, say Thank You! Thank the people in your life that taught you, mentored you, and befriended you.
4. Keep in touch: Hopefully you have used and implemented these practices throughout your career and have come away with connections that positively influence your future. You have done the work, now don’t lose the reward. Be sure to keep in touch with those connections. LinkedIn and Facebook are such great tools because all it takes is one ‘like’ or comment and you have gained top-of-mind awareness. Remember to recommend your friends and colleagues when the situation arises and continuously connect whether personally or electronically.
“Eventually everything connects – people, ideas, objects. The quality of the connections is the key to quality per se.” – Charles Eames