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in a professional setting, when you are a new employee

S

skim milk

Diamond Member
is it better to be outspoken and talkative during meetings?
or silent and not saying much at all?

Because I could've provided some input on our current project but since I'm the youngest in the group, I admit I was intimidated and feared looking like a fool. I'm asking to see if I need to be more vocal or be more meek for now as I prove myself in other ways
 
add the input, don't be afraid or offended to be corrected. Shows initiative and confidence. always show you want to learn.

just be ready to be given more work if you show enthusiasm toward the project.
 
Never talk just to talk. But if you have questions, ask them in a non-challenging manner.

If something seems like it's not being done the "right" way, phrase the question in terms of, "Can you help me understand why we do X this way? I'm new and still trying to understand all of [company's] processes." Do not phrase it like, "You need to do X this way instead because the way you're doing it is wrong." Basically, phrase questions as you trying to understand the process, not as you challenging the process. "Why are we doing it this way?" "What would happen if someone did Y or Z instead of X?"

ZV
 
if you have something to contribute, you should say it. thing is, most newbies shouldnt have anything to say - just sit, learn, absorb. formal meetings are also not usually the place to ask questions that only you dont know the answer to (save that for 1 on 1s with your peers).

i am the silent type, bc i want to make sure i know what is going on and what i am talking about before i waste anyones time.
 
Originally posted by: fritolays
is it better to be outspoken and talkative during meetings?
or silent and not saying much at all?

Because I could've provided some input on our current project but since I'm the youngest in the group, I admit I was intimidated and feared looking like a fool. I'm asking to see if I need to be more vocal or be more meek for now as I prove myself in other ways
Click to expand...

I think caution is the better part of valor.

If your idea was good, you can still bring it up later, maybe to your supervisor or colleague privately. If it wasn't, you may have just saved yourself from looking like a fool in front of the group.

You just got hired, no matter how good the idea was you weren't gonna get an immediate promotion or raise. It's not like some big lost opportunity to impress everyone or save the company. Don't sweat it.

After you've been there a little while you'll be more comfortable and know better when to speak up. Either that or they'll start asking you for your thoughts etc.

Fern

 
At my company, if you bring up stupid/annoying crap in meetings or ask pointless questions that you could figure out for yourself, you're probably going to end up getting fired because we won't help you. We work in a very fast paced place where you need to ramp up your skills quickly. That probably won't happen without our help, so don't annoy us. So just be sure your input/question is valid.
 
I would be really respectful and deferring in the beginning but still bring up my opinion. If you phrase your ideas as "could this possibly work?" you wont step on any toes and can generate more discussion within the group. Also shows you're engaged and willing to ask for clarification
 
Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
Aren't you the one Google accepted for a job offer? If so, probably best to just be quiet...
Click to expand...

That is pcslookout. Same avatar though.
Click to expand...

Oh, right. We need more avatars; everyone should get their own. Especially if they do something particularly memorable (by which I mean stupid).

But that doesn't change my advice; keep quiet until you know what's going on.
 
Originally posted by: fritolays
is it better to be outspoken and talkative during meetings?
or silent and not saying much at all?

Because I could've provided some input on our current project but since I'm the youngest in the group, I admit I was intimidated and feared looking like a fool. I'm asking to see if I need to be more vocal or be more meek for now as I prove myself in other ways
Click to expand...

Yes, please perpetuate the race's stereotype.
 
I've found that it's a good idea to speak up if you're at a meeting with a potential customer and you have something to add that can help to seal the deal.

When meeting with co-workers or managers, though, it's usually a good idea just to keep your mouth shut during meetings. Saying something is normally a lose-lose proposition, because:

1) If your idea is bad, you're going to make yourself look like a moron. You can also expect some of your nastier co-workers to tease you about your stupid idea later.
2) If your idea is good, you're going to get assigned the task of implementing the idea because you came up with it! Congratulations, you just gave yourself more work to do. I hope that you didn't have a busy schedule, because now the boss will expect a report/quote/prototype of your idea by the end of the week. Sucker.
3) Either way, you're going to make the meeting even longer than it was before and make the folks who just want to get out of there angry. Perhaps you should send an e-mail AFTER the meeting instead.

 
Originally posted by: ultimatebob
I've found that it's a good idea to speak up if you're at a meeting with a potential customer and you have something to add that can help to seal the deal.

When meeting with co-workers or managers, though, it's usually a good idea just to keep your mouth shut during meetings. Saying something is normally a lose-lose proposition, because:

1) If your idea is bad, you're going to make yourself look like a moron. You can also expect some of your nastier co-workers to tease you about your stupid idea later.
2) If your idea is good, you're going to get assigned the task of implementing the idea because you came up with it! Congratulations, you just gave yourself more work to do. I hope that you didn't have a busy schedule, because now the boss will expect a report/quote/prototype of your idea by the end of the week. Sucker.
3) Either way, you're going to make the meeting even longer than it was before and make the folks who just want to get out of there angry. Perhaps you should send an e-mail AFTER the meeting instead.
Click to expand...

Wow, this thread is full of scared complacent employees. Innovation doesn't happen from keeping your mouth shut.
 
"Should I or shouldn't I speak up in a meeting?"

Could a more vague question be asked? Seriously, try to think of one!

He doesn't even say what line of work he is in.

My response is based on my office, ZV's sounds like the kid just busts out asking weird questions in the middle of a meeting, and almost everyone else's is annoying in some way or form so everyone grab a can of STFU.
 
it's not really an either/or thing.

if you've got a good question, ask it, but don't talk just for the sake of talking.
 
Originally posted by: JS80
Originally posted by: ultimatebob
I've found that it's a good idea to speak up if you're at a meeting with a potential customer and you have something to add that can help to seal the deal.

When meeting with co-workers or managers, though, it's usually a good idea just to keep your mouth shut during meetings. Saying something is normally a lose-lose proposition, because:

1) If your idea is bad, you're going to make yourself look like a moron. You can also expect some of your nastier co-workers to tease you about your stupid idea later.
2) If your idea is good, you're going to get assigned the task of implementing the idea because you came up with it! Congratulations, you just gave yourself more work to do. I hope that you didn't have a busy schedule, because now the boss will expect a report/quote/prototype of your idea by the end of the week. Sucker.
3) Either way, you're going to make the meeting even longer than it was before and make the folks who just want to get out of there angry. Perhaps you should send an e-mail AFTER the meeting instead.
Click to expand...

Wow, this thread is full of scared complacent employees. Innovation doesn't happen from keeping your mouth shut.
Click to expand...

None of the companies that I worked for were really interested in "innovation".. they just wanted to squeeze every ounce of productivity that they could out of everyone. I'd imagine that the "rules" are different at small start-up companies, but at large mega-corporations it's a better idea to keep your mouth shut.

Perhaps I'm still bitter, but I learned this lesson the hard way after proposing a few ideas that took hours to research but never get implemented due to various corporate political reasons.

 
Originally posted by: JS80
Originally posted by: ultimatebob
I've found that it's a good idea to speak up if you're at a meeting with a potential customer and you have something to add that can help to seal the deal.

When meeting with co-workers or managers, though, it's usually a good idea just to keep your mouth shut during meetings. Saying something is normally a lose-lose proposition, because:

1) If your idea is bad, you're going to make yourself look like a moron. You can also expect some of your nastier co-workers to tease you about your stupid idea later.
2) If your idea is good, you're going to get assigned the task of implementing the idea because you came up with it! Congratulations, you just gave yourself more work to do. I hope that you didn't have a busy schedule, because now the boss will expect a report/quote/prototype of your idea by the end of the week. Sucker.
3) Either way, you're going to make the meeting even longer than it was before and make the folks who just want to get out of there angry. Perhaps you should send an e-mail AFTER the meeting instead.
Click to expand...

Wow, this thread is full of scared complacent employees. Innovation doesn't happen from keeping your mouth shut.
Click to expand...

What are you, an IBM commercial?
 
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