Being fresh out of college doesn’t mean you can’t be a standout in the way you conduct yourself in your entry level career.
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As you transition from college to career, you may often feel like the one with the least knowledge and experience.
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Here’s something to remember: You will grow tremendously in your career by helping other people along the way, no matter how young, old or experienced they may be.
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There are 7 words that should be a key part of your professional practice– the thing that differentiates you from everyone else. And those 7 words are (drum roll please) …
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“What can I do to help you?”
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Yep, that’s it. Not rocket science, is it? Most of the really potent stuff isn’t. It’s about developing a pattern of personal conduct that allows you to grow by helping others along the way. Here’s what this powerful incantation does for you. Let’s break it down.
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- Specificity. If you ask a vague question, you will get a vague answer. This question invites the respondent to make a specific request you can fulfill.
- Time bound. You are asking what you can do to help someone, now. Immediacy is implied.
- Sincerity. It’s a question that says you are genuinely willing to help, exactly because it isn’t vague.
- Initiative. It demonstrates your ability to proactively make an offer to help where you saw an opportunity to do so.
- Teamwork. It positions you as a team player, invested in the success of others.
- Humility. This offer says you are willing to help in whatever manner is needed, even if it means taking on a task you wouldn’t normally do. Humility, by the way, is a highly underrated workplace attribute.
- Personal Leadership. It shows capability to look outside your scope, and intervene if you see an opportunity to help. You made a call based on the situation around you and the mission at hand. This is what leaders do.
- Goodwill. Trying to figure out how to work better with a difficult personality in the office? This question extends a metaphorical olive branch.
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Here’s the best part.
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Picture a frantic situation. There’s a deadline, an angry client, a project that’s due, a last minute fire drill, an emergency of some kind. High stress. You use these 7 words in an authentic offer to help someone who appears besieged.
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You are AMAZINGLY EMPOWERED by making the offer. You GAIN CONFIDENCE in yourself, simply by asking the question. Imagine what will happen when you follow through.
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You’ll find many ways in life to genuinely offer your support with these 7 words. Say them out loud. Practice giving your voice to them. Practice making the sincere offer. Challenge yourself to find as many situations in all aspects of your life. See what happens.
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Are we connected on Twitter? @leamcleod
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