in a professional setting, when you are a new employee

[MaxDepth]

Meetings with the boss and department members: speak up when you have something to add. Make sure you are offering insight and/or problem resolution. Do not interupt, though. Wait for the conversation to slow down first. I hate interuptions and it makes a person look yappy.

Don't "me too" unless asked directly. Adding repetitive remarks does nothing but make you look like a kiss-up.

Also, if injecting an attempt at humor, know the crowd. It is okay to have mordant humor in a meeting, but make sure you let everyone realize you are just joking.

Also, especially in small meetings with people above your station, do not make attempts at side conversation. It is mostly rude and it is better to make a note of it and talk to that particular person after the meeting. Don't be afraid to speak your mind then. People do appreciate good ideas, really.

The things I hate in meetings:
* People who basically parrot what someone else says, just to be heard or thinks that "summing it up" is necessary (Only repeat it if you are assuming a task or project and repeat it to make sure you have it correct.)
* Yappies. People who always make little worthless comments, or interupt to say nothing important.
* People who will jump on the "bad" bandwagon to drive something down or belittle without offering a solution. There are too many of these people around and are basically worthless.

You want to be noticed and want to participate? Offer solutions, not more problems. People more senior than you respect you for it and will accept you more as a peer.

 

[MisterJackson]

Tis better to close your mouth and be thought the fool rather than to open it and prove you are.

 

[FDF12389]

Only talk if you know what your talking about. Then you appear to always right.

 

[D1gger]

If my employees were as scared to speak as some of the people in this thread my company would be in real trouble.

I want every employee to challenge the rational about why we do things the way we do them. We can only improve our operation and customer service if we are looking for constant improvements. Many past improvements have come from people who are new to the organization and bring a different perspective.

I will never give anyone flack for bringing up or challenging an idea, no matter how dumb it may sound. It can always lead to a good discussion that may come around to a brilliant solution.

The one exception that I insist on, is that these discussions should happen internally. If we are in a meeting with an existing or potential client, I like my employees to support the companies products, services and policies as dictated. If they have a question or suggestion, it should be raised internally so we look like we know what we are doing in front of the client.

 

[spidey07]

You'll soon learn the way to attend meetings. Don't say a damn thing, don't bring up an idea, don't say ANYTHING.

Bringing up an idea or saying anything is literally shouting "HEY!!!! GIVE ME MORE WORK!!!" Have an idea and bring it up in a meeting "Sounds like a good idea, get it done before the end of next month".

Seriously, there is an art to meetings and the 1st rule is don't say a damn thing.

-edit-
The only time you should say anything is to put blame on somebody or to pin them to the wall to commit to do more work.

 

[Xavier434]

If you have a question or a comment which you feel will be productive then say it. Just don't try too hard to come up with something productive in order to try and impress them. They don't want to be impressed. They want to be productive. However, unless they are tards, I am sure part of the reason they brought you to the meeting is because they know you are new and they want you to learn so being silent isn't a bad option either.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
ZV's sounds like the kid just busts out asking weird questions in the middle of a meeting.

I have yet to have a system I've implemented fail when promoted to production. Those "weird questions" build strong requirements documents and test scripts and cover contingencies that other people often don't see because they're more worried about looking silly than they are about actually understanding a system or process.

If you're afraid to ask questions, something's wrong. I do agree, however, with the poster who said that you shouldn't ask questions like those about your own products in front of customers.

ZV

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: Kev

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.

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

What are you, an IBM commercial?

Funny you mention that, as the big tech companies like IBM and Microsoft are about as anti-innovation as they come. As long as the revenue is flowing in, they don't want to make any major changes to their products. Their goal is to add just enough new features to give their sales team an excuse to sell the version upgrades and add-on products, but leave the core design alone.

That's why you see them buying small software companies all the time... they rarely come up with good ideas on their own and often have to buy upstart competitors who have better concepts.

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: D1gger
If my employees were as scared to speak as some of the people in this thread my company would be in real trouble.

I want every employee to challenge the rational about why we do things the way we do them. We can only improve our operation and customer service if we are looking for constant improvements. Many past improvements have come from people who are new to the organization and bring a different perspective.

I will never give anyone flack for bringing up or challenging an idea, no matter how dumb it may sound. It can always lead to a good discussion that may come around to a brilliant solution.

The one exception that I insist on, is that these discussions should happen internally. If we are in a meeting with an existing or potential client, I like my employees to support the companies products, services and policies as dictated. If they have a question or suggestion, it should be raised internally so we look like we know what we are doing in front of the client.

We're talking about a new employee though. Unless you were brought in specifically to overhaul the existing system, you should at least spend some time understanding the big picture of how things work. Then you can explain why your ideas are better instead of appearing to throw things out there in hopes that something will stick.

 

[imported_Imp]

Just say it. I was a summer temp working on a major project with department and office managers, and I stayed quiet most of the time cause of the intimidation. But even worse is that there will always be that 1 jackass who isn't intimidated and will call you out on not saying stuff. Worst thing was that I had some pretty good ideas that none of the 30+ year olds thought about. You can get places by being outspoken or you can ass-kiss and stay in the corner.

 

[agibby5]

Originally posted by: Imp
You can get places by being outspoken or you can ass-kiss and stay in the corner.

I like this and I agree. These seem like two opposite ways to get where you want to be. I usually decide it's a better idea to go with the former.

 

[D1gger]

Originally posted by: puffff

Originally posted by: D1gger
If my employees were as scared to speak as some of the people in this thread my company would be in real trouble.

I want every employee to challenge the rational about why we do things the way we do them. We can only improve our operation and customer service if we are looking for constant improvements. Many past improvements have come from people who are new to the organization and bring a different perspective.

I will never give anyone flack for bringing up or challenging an idea, no matter how dumb it may sound. It can always lead to a good discussion that may come around to a brilliant solution.

The one exception that I insist on, is that these discussions should happen internally. If we are in a meeting with an existing or potential client, I like my employees to support the companies products, services and policies as dictated. If they have a question or suggestion, it should be raised internally so we look like we know what we are doing in front of the client.

We're talking about a new employee though. Unless you were brought in specifically to overhaul the existing system, you should at least spend some time understanding the big picture of how things work. Then you can explain why your ideas are better instead of appearing to throw things out there in hopes that something will stick.

But my point is that I want to hear the dumb questions. It is amazing how many times companies do the same thing over and over just because that is the way they have always done it. If someone asks a question that makes you think, it may bring a realization that there is a better way.

 

[shortylickens]

Early on, its better to listen than talk.

But if you think you know whats going and can contribute something, do so.
It makes you look proactive and damn near every company likes to see that in a new guy.

 

[randay]

be sure to start each sentence with a listing of your qualifications, that always helps

ps. thats what not to do...