North Coast Media, LLC

How to make a good impression while dining for work

By Diane Sofranec, Managing Editor

At some point during your professional career, you will be invited to dine with your boss or an important client — or both. Don’t make the mistake of thinking a business dinner or lunch is simply a meal on the company’s dime.

Instead, think of your meal with coworkers and clients as a business meeting with food. You are representing your company, so you had better be on your best behavior at the table.

Here are a few tips that will help you maintain your professionalism and make a good impression.

Make a good first impression.

If you’re meeting clients or coworkers for the first time, introduce yourself with a smile and a handshake (before the meal, if possible). If you’re getting together at the restaurant, be sure to arrive early.

Give thanks.

Before you take your seat, thank your host for inviting you. When the meal is over and you’re ready to leave, thank your host once more. It’s important to show your appreciation, even if you’re just having lunch with your boss.

Mind your manners.

It’s easy to act respectable if you remember a few key points. Put your napkin on your lap and keep it there. Sit up straight. Keep your elbows off the table. Don’t talk with your mouth full. Say please and thank you when asking for food to be passed. Chew with your mouth closed. Place your napkin to the left of your plate when you’re finished eating and ready to leave. Stop at one drink if you’re ordering alcohol. Be polite to the wait staff.

Consider the menu carefully.

Scan the menu quickly and decide what to order; don’t make the entire table wait while you consider your options. Ask your server to clarify menu items if you must, but avoid making substitutions. Don’t offend your host by complaining about the menu choices and not ordering. If the only food that appeals to you is an appetizer or side dish, order it for your meal. Stick with food you can eat with without getting it all over yourself (come back for the BBQ wings when you’re with friends).

Join the conversation.

Don’t dominate the topic of discussion, but don’t stay silent, either. If you’re not sure what to talk about, think of a few subjects in advance and bring them up if there’s a lull in the conversation. Avoid discussing politics, religion and finances. Don’t text or take calls at the table; leave your cell phone in your pocket or purse. If you must take a call or text, excuse yourself and make it brief.

Remember, the way you act around family and friends won’t cut it when you’re dining with clients and coworkers. Act like the professional you are whether you’re in the office or at the restaurant.

Diane Sofranec has more than 25 years of B2B media experience. She joined North Coast Media in 2013 as a digital content producer and is now managing editor of the company’s Pest Management Professional magazine.

Photo: istock.com/monkeybusinessimages

Performance reviews: How to showcase your talents

By Diane Sofranec, Managing Editor

Nearly every company requires employees to participate in the performance review process. But how can you get the most out of an on-the-job assessment with your boss?

Before your performance review meeting, take time to think about the outstanding work you’ve done over the past year. Pay particular attention to the successes your boss may not have noticed.

In part one of my performance review blog post, I explained how to ensure you get the most out of your performance review. This time, I’ll explore how you can show you’re an asset to your company.

Here are 4 steps to ensure your performance review will help your career:

1. Keep track of your accomplishments.

Now is the time to show how you are an asset to your company. Tell your boss how you helped your company save money, successfully completed a project before deadline and under budget, or established a valuable contact. Prove your value by documenting examples of the good job you consistently do. If you don’t do so already, keep track of the amazing work you do throughout the year so you won’t forget accomplishments worth mentioning.

2. Show off your stellar attitude.

Let your boss know you are eager to learn. Take on new challenges and responsibility. Volunteer for the work your colleagues shirk. Learn new skills that will take your job performance to the next level. Show your boss you are a reliable, hard working professional who can successfully complete a variety of tasks, no matter how large or small.

3. Disclose positive feedback.

Make sure your boss knows you received compliments from clients and coworkers throughout the year. If you have them in writing, present copies to your boss during your performance review. Clarify the comments with a brief explanation of what you did to earn the accolades.

4. Ask what you can do now to advance your career in the future.

If you love the company you work for, let your boss know you want to stick around and move up the corporate ladder. Convey your excitement about your future with your company by suggesting new projects or offering helpful ideas. Demonstrate your willingness to go above and beyond what’s expected of you.

Before your performance review meeting, think about the positive contributions you make to your company, and then share them with you boss. It may be one of the best career moves you make.

Diane Sofranec has more than 25 years of B2B media experience. She joined North Coast Media in 2013 as a digital content producer and is now managing editor of the company’s Pest Management Professional magazine.

Performance reviews: How to prepare for success

By Diane Sofranec, Managing Editor

If you’re like most employees, your annual performance review doesn’t do much to help your career. You meet face-to-face with your boss, you’re told you are — or are not — doing a great job, and you get the standard company raise — or worse, no raise at all.

Prepare for your annual performance review, however, and you just might score a substantial bump in pay, more challenging job duties and job security.

In part one of this two-part post, I’ll examine how you can use your performance review to launch your career in the right direction. In part two, I’ll explore how you can show you’re an asset to your company.

Here are 4 ways to get the most out of your performance review:

1. Learn the purpose of your performance review.

Ask your boss what he or she hopes to gain from conducting a performance review. Does your yearly raise depend on your job performance? If so, which of your abilities are being measured and how? Ask your boss what it takes to be considered an outstanding employee and then, make it happen.

2. Request an honest assessment.

If your boss doesn’t tell you how you’re doing, ask. Don’t get defensive if your boss gives you constructive criticism. Instead, assure your boss you can learn from your mistakes. Use the feedback to make necessary adjustments in your attitude or work habits.

3. Establish attainable goals for the year.

Look at your job description (if you don’t have one, work with your boss to create one) and add a few tasks you can complete over the course of the year. Take on a project you and your colleagues have been putting off or consider tackling a challenging task that will test your abilities. Set specific and relevant goals that you and your boss can measure. Be sure to ask your boss to update your list of duties in your job description. At next year’s performance review, you can showcase your accomplishments.

4. Ask your boss to track your progress.

Request the opportunity to check in with your boss on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis because yearly is too long to wait. That way, you and your boss will know you are working toward your goals and are on target to meet them. Before you leave your performance review meeting, set up a time to check in for an update.

Your performance review can be a stepping stone to a successful career if you ask the right questions and heed your boss’ feedback.

Photo: iStock.com/Andrei_F

8 ways to email like a professional

By Diane Sofranec, Managing Editor

The number of emails I send and receive throughout the workday never ceases to amaze me. It’s a lot. But for that, I am thankful. I would much rather communicate with colleagues via email than telephone.

Why? I work in an office of cubicles and sit near a hallway that acts as a megaphone. When I’m on the phone, my coworker on the other side of the office can clearly hear my conversation — and I can hear his.

But keeping the peace is not the only reason I prefer emails. Emails serve as a record of a conversation. There’s no second-guessing what was communicated because it’s right there, in writing. That’s why it’s important to craft succinct messages that convey professionalism. Here’s how:

1. Get to the point.

Keep your message as brief as you possibly can. Stay on topic. Be clear. You are at work, where there’s no time for colleagues to read a 10-paragraph manifesto. Write a subject line that clearly states the purpose of your message.

2. Eliminate private information.

As you write your message, keep in mind that the recipient may forward it to others. Do not include information you would not want others to know. Even if you request confidentiality, you have no control over what the recipient will do with your email. Once you send your email, your message is no longer private. Use the telephone to discuss matters you prefer to keep private.

3. Think before you type.

Say what you mean. Read your message before you send it. Does it make sense? Does it accurately convey your thoughts? Would you be embarrassed if someone other than the recipient read it?

4. Send anytime.

What I love most about email is that it’s available 24/7, so I can send and receive messages after work hours. That doesn’t mean the recipient will read my message at midnight, but it does mean I can cross off a task from my to-do list or handle a pressing issue sooner rather than later. Haven’t we all had a workaholic boss who sent emails in the wee hours of the morning and on weekends?

5. Respond within 24-48 hours.

You shouldn’t have to check your work emails over the weekend. But you should respond to your messages first thing Monday morning. During the workday, set aside time to check your messages and don’t put off sending a response. It’s more efficient to read a message once, respond, and move on.

6. Remember, you’re on the job.

Your emails are a reflection on you and the company for which you work. Keep your messages professional. Do not write like you text, or use exclamation points and emoticons. Do not use profanity or racist comments. Do not write in all caps (“yelling” in an email is unprofessional anyway). Always say please and thank you.

7. Use a signature line.

Don’t assume the recipient of your message knows who you are (unless you correspond on a regular basis). Create a signature line in your email client and use it every time. Be sure to add your full name, current title, company name and phone number.

8. Address the message last.

Have you ever accidentally hit send before your message was ready? I have, and that’s why I write the message first, proofread it, and then add my attachments if I have any, the subject line and the recipient’s email address. Now recipients always receive the completed message I want them to have.

Photo: ©istock.com/leszekglasner

5 steps to a smooth summer internship program

By Diane Sofranec, Managing Editor

Internships are a win-win for the students who land them and the companies that offer them.

While interns gain valuable professional experience, the companies they work for get a unique opportunity to mentor workers who are about to launch their careers.

But that’s not all. An intern can bring a fresh perspective to your company’s way of doing business. Students with technological skills and social media savvy can share their knowledge and enthusiasm with employees who are slow to embrace all that the Internet has to offer. Plus, interns who make meaningful contributions to your company become ideal job candidates when employment opportunities arise.

But before you put out a call for help, take these five important steps:

Determine exactly what an intern can do for you and your company.

Do you and your colleagues have a full workload because you’re not working hard or smart enough? Is a special project putting the squeeze on your time and talents? If you have a surplus of meaningful work, consider hiring an intern. But remember, you’ll have your summer intern for only about three months, not indefinitely.

Aim to make a lasting impression.

Assign tasks that will provide your intern with new skills and capabilities. Add your intern to the team in charge of a special project at your company. Assign your intern a task that must be completed by the end of summer. That way, your intern will come away with an accomplishment or two to include on a resume.

Develop a detailed plan.

Create a list of daily or weekly duties for the entire summer. Make sure it includes more than fetching coffee and making copies. You’re not hiring a trained monkey, after all. Match the tasks to your intern’s interests and field of study. Incorporate performance reviews so you can offer guidance and measure your intern’s progress.

Designate a mentor.

Appoint a trusted employee to work with your intern. Give your employee the authority to answer questions, assign tasks, and approve timesheets. Choose a good role model who will demonstrate appropriate office behavior. Patience and a desire to help are important qualities, too.

Carefully consider compensation.

Interns often are paid for their services. The amount usually depends on the complexity of the duties or the status of the student. High school students may receive minimum wage or less whereas college seniors may be paid more, for example. If you don’t plan to pay your intern, learn the law the U.S. Department of Labor enacted under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

With proper planning, an internship can be a rewarding experience for all involved. Contact the guidance offices at your local high schools, colleges and universities to see how your company can get involved.

Diane Sofranec has more than 25 years experience in B2B media. She is managing editor of North Coast Media’s Pest Management Professional magazine, and enjoys working with the interns NCM hires every summer.

Photo credit: flazingo_photos via Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Why positive feedback is good for your company

By Diane Sofranec, Managing Editor

“Great job.” “Amazing work.” “I wish I could clone you.” When was the last time your boss told you you’re an asset to the company?

If you know you’re good job at your job because your boss tells you so, consider yourself lucky. Positive feedback makes you feel valued. But your company benefits, too. Here’s why.

Positive feedback sends the message that you’re modeling correct behavior.

If you know you are completing your tasks as expected or better than expected, you will continue to demonstrate this acceptable behavior. A motivated worker who gets the job done right is exactly what every company needs.

Positive feedback boosts morale.

You spend eight hours a day in the workplace, so you might as well be happy while you’re there. Happy employees tend to want to stay at their current jobs, not look for a better place to work. They also show enthusiasm for the work they must do every day. A positive attitude can be infectious, and who doesn’t want to work with people who are happy?

Positive feedback encourages communication.

Interaction with your boss – when he/she is telling you what a great job you’re doing – fosters a good working relationship. Employees often avoid bosses and coworkers who constantly berate them. And who can blame them? You will engage with your boss more often if you know he/she is approachable.

Positive feedback improves work performance.

When you know you are well liked at the office, chances are you will work harder to please your boss. If you want to please your boss, you are more likely to take on new projects, participate during meetings and share ideas. Taking the initiative can help boost your career and your company’s bottom line.

A 2015 Gallup report, “State of the American Manager: Analytics and Advice for Leaders,” shows why it pays to be positive. U.S. managers who care little about their jobs and the companies where they work cost the U.S. an estimated $319 to $398 billion each year due to the effect they have on the workers they manage, according to the study. Gallup, which conducts research on employee engagement, says its research shows, “engagement is strongly connected to business outcomes that are essential to an organization’s financial success, including productivity, profitability and customer ratings.”

You want to be good at your job. Positive feedback helps ensure that you are. And that’s good for you and your company.

Diane Sofranec has more than 25 years experience in B2B media. She joined North Coast Media in 2013 as a digital content producer and is now managing editor of the company’s Pest Management Professional magazine. She loves to hear her boss tell her she’s doing a good job.

Photo credit: joeltelling via Foter.com / CC BY-SA