Just a quick post to share the slides of a presentation I recently gave on six principles that can help you optimize both your results and your career.
The material, which should be familar to long-time Kellblog readers, is largely based on posts that I’ve written over the years and the last slide of the deck has links to specific posts. The six principles are:
- Answer the effing question (ATFQ). Not answering questions wastes time, frustrates coworkers and executives, and can stall your career.
- Know your in-memory analytics. Know what numbers you should know in your sleep, why, and then know them. Executives will often use this as a basic form of competency testing.
- Understand the three fundamental layers of management (manager, director, VP). Learn how to think like the next level. It’s not that easy.
- Write actionable emails. Write messages that are written to be responded to, quickly and tersely. Have empathy for the recipient.
- Be a simplifier. The fastest way to get stuck as a project manager (or equivalent) is to be seen as someone who complexifies simple things instead of simplifying complex things.
- Follow the three golden rules of feedack. It has to honest. It has to be timely. And, the tough one, it has to be kind.
I’ve embedded the slides below and you can download a PDF version here.
Great stuff Dave. I particularly like the email comment. There is nothing worse than a long, verbose, sesquipedalian email that actually says nothing. You are compelled to read it multiple times, and come away thinking 🤦
Thanks Pete. You had me sesquipedalian.
This is the best post!! Thank you for this.
Thanks
Great list here, love the framing of “In-memory” analytics – reminds me of teaching team members to know stats off the top of their in-case they spent time with CEO (or other leaders) to show they know the specific numbers. And executing on simplification is always a challenge.
A model I found (can’t remember source) but used as a feedback self-learning is a great model for coaching alongside feedback. It was the below:
There are 4 levels of employees:
Level 1 — You do what you are asked to do.
Level 2 — Level 1 + You think ahead and solve problems before they happen.
Level 3 — Level 2 + You proactively look for areas of opportunity and growth in the business, and figure out how to tap into them
Level 4 — Level 3 + You help others do that either by coaching, mentoring or by taking on projects
Great post.