5 things for a successful organizational career

One of the most difficult things everyone, starting their career, must do is “understand the organization” in which they’ve decided to become a member. There is likely no other task with which they will be presented that will determine their well-being as much as coming to this understanding. There will be bumps along the way but pursuing an understanding of the organization relentlessly is critical to success. This is as true for professionals like Doctors, Lawyers and Accountants as it is for those working for Bank of America or General Motors. Following are five things that can help everyone, at all levels of all organizations, to achieve that success.

1. Read John Donne — “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;” In organizations of any size people interact with other people and rely on other people. Organizational work is all about working with others, mostly in a cooperative way but at times in an adversarial way as well. Learn, early-on, that your success will largely depend on the relationships you make with many other people.
2. Find “the Main” — All organizations have a main street on which members spend the great part of their time. “The Main” represents what it is members believe they do and, more importantly, who they are. For some organizations “the Main” is “retailing” and…