Changing Roles at SLAC: Presentation for WIS Janice Dabney 3/28/07

A few hints Keep a sense of humor Listen to others; make eye contact Be creative about opportunities to learn Practice speaking in groups Help others succeed – be “part of the solution, not part of the problem” Keep your social interactions at work to a minimum – stay focused & honor your commitment to your employer Opportunities to learn – won’t always come to you; you have to be receptive to them or at times seek them out. Take advantage of your STAP funds – it’s a special benefit and may not always be there Practice speaking in groups – Scary Toastmaster’s Gets easier with experience Volunteer to be the spokesperson for something you really enjoy (perhaps in your personal life) and then move into more challenging areas

A few more hints… (did I mention a sense of humor?) Breathe, stretch, schedule in 60-second stress breaks throughout the day Compliment others on good work; give constructive criticism when appropriate Think of yourself as a professional in whatever you do…and present yourself accordingly

Key things that helped me Ability to take risks (“you won’t know if you don’t try”) Supportive life partner Supportive supervisors Writing skills Positive but realistic attitude Writing skills – this skill opens doors and cuts across organizational lines – everyone appreciates good communication skills, and managers notice those who have them since they benefit from them