Author: William White

  • Rise and Shine!

    Q: My boss expects me to be at work on time at 8:30 in the morning. This is impossible! I’m a night owl. Why can’t I just work when I want? As long as I produce, what difference does it make when I’m there?

    A: Wake up—earlier and to the real world. You may be a night owl who likes to stay up all night but much of the working world operates somewhere in the vicinity of nine-to-five (give or take a hour or so either way). The world revolves around companies and organizations starting on time. Meetings are set based on the expectation that people will be present and participate in person. Your personal preference may be to work at night, but your team is in the office during the day—and they need you there.

    Your team needs you to be present in order to communicate and interact with you. They need your input and spontaneous reactions to questions that are asked and ideas that are kicked around. Working together on a project can’t be acomplished if someone is absent during the day and only logs on at night.

    Like it or not, at least half the world is made up of morning people. You may not be one of them by nature, but you can train yourself to become one. It’s not college anymore when you can take classes that start after noon. The good news, however, is that after work there is no homework.

    If you’re still not convinced, perhaps you can find solace in the fact it could be worse. One large U.S-based firm scheduled weekly conference calls at two o’clock in the afternoon and expected everyone on the team to be on the call—including a colleague in the Singapore office. No matter that, for him, it was two o’clock in the morning. After the call was over, usually around three-thirty in the morning Singapore time, he was back in the office by nine o’clock—with a double-shot espresso, of course.

    In time you may be able to find a position with your company or a job with another firm that better suits your internal clock. In some industries—healthcare, financial services, and consulting, to name a few—there are 24-hour teams of professionals. If you prefer the night shift, there may be a place for you.

    In addition, there are some companies that do allow some flexibility in working hours. Recently, while visiting Microsoft headquarters, I was surprised to learn that engineers have the option of coming to work in the mid-morning. It doesn’t shorten their workday, of course; if they come in at 10 or 11 in the morning, they work until 6 or 7 or even later. Many others at the company, however, work more traditional hours—as I found out during a 5:30 “traffic jam” on the corporate campus. When I asked who were all these people leaving work, I was told it was the administrative staff.

    The bottom line to having a successful career is to be available to interact with your team, and in most cases that means “face time.” So get up earlier and face the day. You always have the weekends to sleep in.

    The Extraordinary Career features proven success strategies and advice for recent graduates and young professionals from William J. White, who draws upon a successful corporate career, including as Chairman and CEO of a New York Stock Exchange-traded company. Bill is now Professor at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University, and author of the career book for young professionals, ¬From Day One: CEO Advice to Launch an Extraordinary Career.

    Got a question? Email Bill White at bill@fromdayone.com

  • The “Clueless” Boss

    Q: My boss doesn’t seem to have a clue about what I do, or if she does know about it, she sure doesn’t seem to appreciate it. How can I tell her what a great job I’m doing?

    A: Yes, she does know and yes, she does care. The problem, however, may be your boss doesn’t value your contribution in the same way you do. For example, you are immersed in your portion of a project. You’ve done everything asked of you on time if not ahead of schedule. As far as you’re concerned, your efforts deserve high praise. Your boss, however, is focused on the entire project, some parts of which may be behind schedule and others that may be proving difficult to complete because of unforeseen obstacles.

    That doesn’t mean you have to suffer in silence. Instead, you can initiate a conversation with your boss specifically about what you’ve acomplished and seeking her feedback. Before you proceed, however, make sure that you are comfortable receiving feedback because it’s always possible that some aspects may not be as positive as you expect. Asking for feedback is an effective way to open a dialogue with your boss, which will give you insights into how your contribution is valued—as well as what’s on your boss’s mind. There could be developments afoot that you know nothing about, which are causing your boss to appear “clueless.”

    Here’s a true story: Henry was working overseas for a U.S. company, reporting to a boss who was difficult to work for because she was demanding at times, yet uncommunicative regarding the job he was doing. Discouraged, Henry thought about seeking a job outside the company. Instead, he took my advice to initiate a dialogue with his boss to solicit her feedback and make sure his priorities were aligned with hers. There was a little improvement after that, although his boss was still distracted. Then suddenly, she was promoted—and Henry ended up with her job! Had he left the company, that opportunity would have passed him by.

    Now there are times—although I’m convinced this occurs in the minority of cases—when a boss is truly clueless. Assuming that you’ve taken a good, long look in the proverbial mirror, and you’re sure that you haven’t imagined this or perpetuated the problem in some way, there are two basic strategies for dealing with a disinterested boss.

    One is to go to H.R., assuming that there in someone in that department who can be your trusted advisor. Your purpose is not to complain about your boss, but rather to get some advice on how to elicit feedback, as well as learning opportunities. Although H.R. won’t tell you, chances are they are well aware that you’re dealing with a disinterested boss, and will lend a sympathetic ear. If it’s any consolation, your co-workers probably have the same experience with your boss, although don’t resort to the gossip mill to find out. This is a time to make doubly sure you’re acting professional at all times.

    Another way to deal with a clueless boss is to include her boss on a three-way conversation about the project you’re working on. This conversation cannot be personal; this is not about you or your boss. Rather, the discussion is about the project that you’re working on, reporting your progress to date, and getting advice and feedback on certain other aspects of the project. Keep your questions and comments squarely on business and productivity issues to diffuse the emotions. Your boss’ boss will pick up on the fact that you aren’t being mentored and guided, without you having to say a word.

    Whether your boss is clueless or just preoccupied, remember it’s all about performance, not personalities. The more you keep you focus on what you’re doing and how you’re contributing, the more likely you will be to find others to guide and champion you.

    The Extraordinary Career features proven success strategies and advice for recent graduates and young professionals from William J. White, who draws upon a successful corporate career, including as Chairman and CEO of a New York Stock Exchange-traded company. Bill is now Professor at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University, and author of the career book for young professionals, From Day One: CEO Advice to Launch an Extraordinary Career.

    Got a question? Email Bill White at bill@fromdayone.com