At 25 years of experience, 5 don'ts and 5 do's

This year I’ll be entering my 25th year at the company I work for. That’s a quarter century of experience as a claims representative, fraud investigator, internal auditor and internal investigator. Time flew as I went from a clueless college grad who’d show up Monday morning still recovering from the weekend to a middle-aged man putting his daughter through college.

I’ve been extremely fortunate to work for a great firm. I’ve managed to avoid a lot of the nightmare work scenarios that others often complain about like micro-managing supervisors, backstabbing coworkers and poor working conditions. I’m grateful my career doesn’t resemble the Dilbert comic strip or episodes of The Office.

Age and time-in-service has made me more reflective at this approaching milestone anniversary. I’d like to share with you some of what I’ve learned: my five don’ts and five do’s to help you survive and thrive in a corporate environment.

Don't

Years ago, I was on a team of investigators, with all of us working from home. That was when organizations weren’t sure if working away from the office was a good idea. Our manager’s simple advice for us was: 1) Do your job and 2) Don’t embarrass the company. In other words, do what you’re paid to do, make me (and the company) look good and we won’t have any problems with you working from home. Need to run some errands? Run errands. Want to go to the gym? Get your workout in. But when you logoff your computer for the day, your work should be done to the best of your ability.

We appreciated his simple message and approach — not to mention the flexibility. In fact, it made us work harder to help make him look good while proving we were more than capable of working independently.

Managers have a tough job. They have to balance the pressures from above while babysitting their teams. It’s a win-win when you’re one less headache for your manager. Making your boss look good might be the deciding factor when it comes to getting a raise or promotion, or keeping your job during the next round of layoffs.

We can be a little jealous at times when our colleagues succeed. But when we go actively out of our way, especially publicly, to undermine or embarrass someone, then we’ve crossed into the hater category.

When you gossip, share a negative story about someone or offer your sarcastic commentary when someone is speaking, then consider yourself a hater. I know I’ve done it plenty of times in my career. And I can tell you not once did I feel good afterward. What’s worse is the person you were sharing with now has a negative perception of you. So, if you have to hate, keep it to yourself. Hopefully, as we mature, we’ll move toward our supportive sides when we see people around us succeed.

I remember walking into a meeting with my boss, and the only other person in the conference room was an IT executive. He was leaning back in his chair with his hands crossed behind his head — a classic power posture. The only thing missing was his feet up on the table. The worst part about this visual? He didn’t even acknowledge us, and we were the only ones in the room!

He carried this same arrogant air in subsequent meetings and when I passed him in the halls. This type of employee usually ends up demoted or laid off. Or they leave the company because others avoid working with them.

So, what’s your thing? What are your coworkers’ perceptions about you? Are you always late to meetings? Do you constantly interrupt people to talk about yourself? Self-assess and ask your boss or a trusted colleague. Find out before your possibly negative persona damages your reputation beyond repair.

Maybe you’re an expert interviewer. Or you can spot anomalies in records a mile away. Or you’re a champion management report writer. You’re the grizzled veteran who’s seen it all. That doesn’t mean you should close your eyes or plug your ears whenever someone brings something new to the table. You can let others offer their opinion instead of chiming in with “in my experience…” or the classic, “at my old company we…”

Sometimes, your colleagues will want or need your opinion. But that’s much different than becoming the arrogant employee who yawns, rolls their eyes or slouches in a meeting because they think they know better. When you become the know-it-all, no one wants to interact with you because they don’t want to feel that their thoughts or ideas are worthless.

If you absorb vibrant energy from colleagues, this section isn’t for you. But if your verve dissipates during social interactions, read on. I’m also an introvert, but I try not to hide in my cubicle. You don’t have to attend every meeting or work event, but consider these opportunities to meet different people, learn something new, or share a little bit of yourself and your expertise. Some of these unplanned interactions open the door to serendipitous meetings of new ideas and people.

Do

Changes in technology can race past you unless you learn the latest. Online courses. Seminars. Books. Videos. Podcasts. Work-sponsored speakers. College classes. Certifications. ACFE chapter meetings, conferences and events. Continuing your education is investing in yourself. You’ll keep up with your industry and find avenues to pursue. And you might come across your future career or company.

I’ve always asked trusted and respected colleagues of all ages for their advice. Years ago, a coworker and I were given a field assignment. I had just started in the department, but he’d been in the profession for several years. During the 1½-hour drive to the field office he gave me a crash course on our department’s quirks, personalities, politics and drama — how things really operated. It was a huge eye-opener for a newbie. If he hadn’t taken the time to help me, I would’ve spent months or years learning the unseen underpinnings of the office. I still go to this person for counsel.

Who are some people you can trust when you need career advice? They’re invaluable. And they can save you a ton of time and heartache.

A lot has been written lately about how to say no. Of course, you shouldn’t be the trash pile where everyone dumps their work. But when you know coworkers are falling behind or struggling, be the team player and offer them assistance.

In the world of insurance claims, it’s not unusual for our voice and email inboxes to be full. If you help someone catch up, you’ll be a superhero in their eyes. And others will have your back when you’re struggling.

When we get to the end of our careers, we often ask, “Is that all there is?” Confusion, disappointment and anxiety can set in because what you thought you wanted isn’t all that you thought it would be. Maybe we’ve put ourselves on career autopilot: get your degree, land a good job, climb the ladder from entry level to team leader to supervisor to manager and then executive. You should have a plan to allow for contingencies and life’s curveballs — illness, death of a loved one, layoffs, burnout. What do you see for yourself? What do you want? Who do you want to be?

During some seasons in our careers, we’ll work long days. Wake up, go to work, repeat. Sometimes, we have to meet a deadline, and it’s all hands on deck. But if you’re constantly missing birthdays, milestone celebrations and rare get-togethers, you need to reevaluate your life and priorities.

I’ve watched a coworker and close friends lose their battles with cancer. I was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2011. (I’m fine now.) Back then I began to question my priorities and how I was spending my time. And I knew I didn’t want to be spending all of my time at work.

Now, don’t quit your job. Or go through the motions until you can clock out for the day. Be a diligent, trusted and well-respected worker who gets their stuff done. But then go home and soak in your life — whatever brings you the most joy. Take off early to watch your kid’s school performance. Leave your desk at lunch to walk in the park or take that lunchtime yoga or CrossFit class. Play in your buddy’s sports league a few times a week. Work to live your life — not the other way around.

Basic rules always in style

Working 25 years at the same company is something from another era like pensions or full-service gas stations. Like many middle-aged workers, I’ve been trying to find my place and footing in the fast-moving work environment. But no matter what new technology or hot new workplace trend emerges, I feel like the foundational rules will always be in style. Will they still be applicable in 25 more years? I’ll leave that to the newly minted college grad to write about.

Phillip V. Poma, CFE, is an audit specialist with CSAA Insurance Group. Contact him at phillip.poma@csaa.com.