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In Good Company is a refreshing comedy, rallying againstcorporate treachery and mass globalisation. Behind the laughs,the Hollywood blockbuster carries some important lessons for thefirst days on your new job! In The Beginning It's your first day of work. But your day begins before you evenstep foot into the office - your work day starts as soon as youleave your house. Carter Duryea (Topher Grace) meets a lovelyyoung lady in the elevator on his first day, and sheepishlytells her that he has no idea what he's supposed to do at work.Of course, we quickly find out she is Alex (Scarlett Johansson),daughter of Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid), whose position in thecompany Carter is taking over. Outside of a Hollywoodproduction, a slip-up like this might prove to be morecareer-threatening than embarrassing. Another story comes to mind, this time in real life. A friendwas driving to work in heavy morning traffic when the driver ofthe car directly behind him started sounding the horn, cut outto pull up alongside him, and then swerved into his lane justahead of him. But not before making a certain hand gesture wehave come to be so strangely familiar with. When my very upsetfriend finally arrives in the office, he finds - horror ofhorrors - the errant driver is the new employee the company hadhired. Needless to say, my friend has not spoken a word to himsince. New Kid On The Block Carter shuffles in and is shown his new corner office with abeautiful view. Everything's rosy, except that has been Dan'soffice since dinosaurs roamed the earth. The look on Dan's facewhen he sees a kid half his age sitting in his chair ispriceless. And the hilarious moment conveys an important lessonfor your first day: Introduce yourself! You feel like a cheese-roll on an ants' nest, and you'reconvinced the whole office - if not the world - must be sizingyou up and sniggering about "the new guy" when your back isturned. The problem is not half as bad. Most people won't beable to tell you apart from Adam. Remember: It is just anotherday at the office for everyone else. Until you introduceyourself to your new colleagues, you could well be mistaken fora client, the dispatch courier, or the air conditionerrepairman. Until you've introduced yourself, you're a stranger -so don't be surprised if you're treated like one! The Name Game When Teddy K (Malcolm McDowell), Carter Duryea's RupertMurdoch-styled conglomerate CEO, sweeps into the newly-acquiredSports America office, he is worshipped in a fashion typicallyreserved for heads of religions, states, and - a more recentphenomenon - American Idol finalists. His confidence, poise, and demeanour are inspirational. And youcannot help but notice how he addresses his staff directly, bytheir names. In fact, Carter is awe-struck when Teddy Kremembers his name and his accomplishments. Whether you start your first day as the CEO of the world'sbiggest MNC or at the first rung of the corporate ladder, makean effort to learn, and remember your co-workers' names. Mostpeople respond better when addressed by name. And you might findhelp is more forthcoming too. If your name recall standardsstretch to all of three seconds after shaking hands, research onmemory-aid techniques or even take notes if you have to. Itwould be less embarrassing than calling out the wrong name. |
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