Stand Out the Right Way

CRASHING THE CONVERSATION
The two people in the cubicle next to you are very quietly working through an issue and you’re sure you know the answer to their problem. Resist the urge to jump in just because you can hear them. They didn’t ask for your help, and there’s a good chance they’ll be annoyed at being interrupted. 

DRESSING LIKE A MINI-ME
Yes, you should take style cues from your boss (if she wears suits, don’t wear jeans) to show you get the office culture and fit in with the team. But be true to yourself—don’t body-snatch someone else! It’s creepy.

RANDOMLY BRAGGING
You should absolutely raise your hand when you have something to add. But don’t feel you need to prove yourself in every conversation. If you drop names or waste people’s time, they’ll be annoyed, not impressed. 

OBSESSING OVER YOUR NEXT MOVE
When interacting with your manager, try not to talk excessively about all the big stuff you want to take on soon or the next job you want at the company. That puts down the job you already have. When I was at CBS, the president of the network told me that he was so refreshed to hear how much I loved my job that it made him want to see me doing more.

BEING LATE
We’re all busy, but don’t wear your frazzled-ness on your sleeve. Be at every dinner, meeting, coffee, and conference call three minutes early.

This article was originally published in the December 2014 issue of Cosmopolitan India.