Success at Work : People Skills : Networking

By Stephen Bucaro

Getting along with your co-workers is critical to your happiness and success at work. You may find yourself spending more time with your co-workers than with your spouse and family. Each individual in an organization is just a small cog in a big wheel. Without assistance of co-workers, you will find your assignments much more difficult.

The first step toward getting assistance of your co-workers is to accept others uniqueness and idiosyncrasies. People come from many different national origins, races, genders, and ages. Corporate America calls this "diversity".

You may think an individual with a different race or national origin is peculiar or has strange habits. I find that all people, regardless of race, national origin, gender, or age, want same things. All people want a safe place to live and employment that gives them ability to provide for themselves and their family. What a boring world this would be if we all dressed same, acted same, and had same ideas.

If you have an attitude of discrimination against a co-worker because of their national origin, race, gender, or age, I'm not going to try to change your mind. I WILL advise you that if you want to succeed at work, you better at least act like you are on diversity bandwagon.

The real difficulty in relating to fellow employees comes from differences in emotional maturity, intelligence, and level of dedication to job. Emotionally immature people may not want to cooperate with you because they feel threatened. They feel that if they help you or reveal any aspect of their job function they may lose job security.

Appearance and accessibility of location

Service and quality of catering

Amenities and special features.

Without a doubt, choosing a venue for your affair is most significant aspect of event planning process. No venue=no event. Choosing proper setting for your organization is of paramount importance. If you find yourself in a position where you are unable to have a professional planner perform a venue inspection for you, following checklists should get you started.

Appearance & Accessibility (Outside)

When you initially approach building, is façade well maintained and pleasing to eye? Is there someone available to greet you at door and direct you where you need to go?

Is location centered and roughly equidistant from areas from which your guests will be traveling?

Is parking available for all of your guests? If not, is there a parking alternative outside facility?

Appearance & Accessibility (Inside)

As you move inside, what is your impression of inside of facility? Wallpaper and paint well maintained? Carpets and floors clean?

Are there tables and chairs lying about from previous functions? At very least, tables and chairs should stacked neatly and out of way.

How far is actual room where event will be held from entrance?

Will room itself be spacious enough to accommodate all of your guests and still have room for at least ten more should your count unexpectantly increase?

Does room have a built in sound system (if applicable)? Does facility have in- house audiovisual equipment or will you need equipment from a rental agency?

Is room clean and in good repair? Wallpaper and carpets well maintained? Any visible cracks, stains or tears?

Is room well lit? If you need to darken room for a presentation, make sure that lights are adjustable.

Is there room for a registration or display table if applicable?

Service & Catering