QUICK TIPS: STAYING ON POINT

Be prompt for meetings and take thorough notes. Make it a habit not to show up late for meetings. People are always watching to see who shows up for meetings and they always notice what time they arrived. We all know the stereotype about Black folks running on CP Time (colored people time, for those who don't know).

Tip #1: If that's how you get down, showing up late for previously set appointments, confine that behavior to your personal time. Maybe your friends don't mind waiting for you to show up, but coworkers and supervisors will mind waiting! Don't let petty behavior contribute to someone giving you a bad reputation by allowing people to have ammunition against you that can be blown completely out of proportion and that can impact your final year-end review.

Tip #2: Make sure you know what action items discussed in the meeting relate to you and that you have a plan for getting the work done.

Tip #3: If your assignments call on you to work with staff in other departments, bring them into the loop as soon as possible, so that everyone knows what the expectations are, what their responsibilities are, and when their assignment is due. People like it when others have respect for their jobs and their time!