A li’l logic with Murphy

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Aim to be the person you needed

Murphy…

I have been at my job for many years and have recently realized that I’m one of the old ones now… many of the young ones come to me for advice. We have new folks coming in, how do I let them know the amount of experience and knowledge I can share with them without coming across as arrogant or self centered?

-L

 

Hey friend,

First of all, I want you to pat yourself on the back just a bit. You don’t get a lot of loyalty in any business these days. Everybody moves around and gets on with a new outfit somewhere doin somethin else or just workin for somebody else.

But after your back pattin’, you best dig back into that humble pie.

It’s a fine balance when you go to offerin knowledge like that. It’s not that you seem arrogant, it’s just that if you go off offerin unsolicited advice you risk that you start soundin like a Nancy-Know-It-All.

Folks have to get in first hand, make mistakes, and learn from them. If you start by waltzin in and tellin them how to do it before they get the chance, it tends to hurt feelins, get folks thinkin you expect you’re smarter than they are before you know about them.

If they come to you askin for help, give them your wisdom. If they ask you how you did it, show them. If it’s your job to make sure they keep their tails in line, work with them on it, but don’t talk to them like they’re kids.

The best advice I was given on this subject is what I guess I’ll hand down to you, honestly. No sense in beatin a dead horse. And this’ll keep it simple: Aim to be the person you needed in your life when you were young.

—Murphy