I know many people never read their employee handbook.  Instead they only dig into it if they’re unhappy about something and want to prove their point.

Any new employee, at any level in a corporation, should read and make sure they understand the employee handbook. Here are four reasons why this is important. 

1.      The handbook communicates the dress code and other behavioral standards.

I don’t like saying no.  I shouldn’t say this because someone reading this article may bombard me with a request for assistance. I’ve had a tendency to take on too many things partly because I don’t want to say no. A turning point for me came a few years ago when I came to the realization that every time I said yes to request I was, by default, saying no to something else. Perhaps I was saying no to family time or to another priority commitment. In life there are no free lunches and no extra time, so when we add something; it alters the schedule. The only question is what part do we alter?

Frequently, an employer will ask for more work from an employee, more than what the basic job description may have identified.  I have been guilty of this to accomplish an important task but also because I felt some employees were capable of doing more. At times we can push too hard in ways that leave the employee overcommitted.  This requires the staff member to make choices about what work to do and what work to delay.

Experience as taught me that when I had additional work thrust in my direction, I would sit down with my boss and explain my current projects and how my committed time was already scheduled.  Then, I asked my supervisor how to delay or delete some tasks in order to take on the new assignment. Sometimes I just wanted my manager to realize my dilemma and figure out another way to get the task done without me. However, when an employee finds themselves in an untenable position, it may be time to start looking for another job.  

Catey Hill of MarketWatch wrote an article in which she shares habits of the highly successful.  They are habits we can learn from. Here’s a summary:

In the public speaking I have done in my career, I have learned some principles that have guided my preparation.  Perhaps they will be helpful to you.

1.  Know who you are as a speaker.

I don’t try to wow my listeners with high energy that lifts them out of their seats. I am not a motivational speaker; I am a content driven speaker. My presentations are not designed to entertain or excite.  Instead, they provide solid and useful information. Before accepting an invitation, I make sure the organization understands what they get when they schedule me.