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- Wise Words -
Work like an American. 
​Why it's more than ok to adopt "our" way of working

writer opted for anonymity

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I recently moved to Europe and have found that Americans are put down in their approach to work. We (I am an American) get a bad rap for working too much while also being called lazy (am not going to get into that contradiction here!). 
 
I initially didn’t give it much thought but now when someone discounts the American work ethic, it hits a nerve, more often than not, I am tempted to ask, what is so wrong with how American’s work? 
 
How can people blanketly state that Americans would be more productive if they took their “holiday,” or that Americans need to be more patient in demanding a response to an email?  I kind of just want to yell “take your siesta on the weekend and respond to my email or at least let me know that you got it so I don’t have to keep reminding you!”  How hard is that?
 
The stereotypes typically relate to how the American way of working is less productive and this is something that I feel the need to take issue with. It’s okay to work like an American. Own it, defend it. I am willing to even go as far as saying that I enjoy it (maybe that’s not always the case but I definitely prefer it to the alternatives I have experienced).
 
The reason I wanted to write this piece is that I was recently told in a work-related context that I am impatient”.  My response was “that maybe so but I like getting things done.” The back and forth continued a bit with me asking why it was too much to expect people to stick to deadlines or acknowledge a request?  I asked how this could be considered impatient?  Even if it is impatient, it’s not an unreasonable thing to expect.  In that same response, I said maybe it’s the American in me that appreciates promptness and respects time.
 
The other aspect of working like an American that I need to address is the impression that we work "too fast", and that’s frowned upon why?  I have received feedback that I work too fast and it opens me up to taking on more than I signed up for. Isn’t that a good thing? I am showing how productive I am plus I am taking on additional projects that I know I can deliver, given my time management skills. For me, the supervisors are never anti me being fast and furious, and if you play your cards right, the boss is the one who will come to you and make sure that you are not taking on too much. Your supervisor will always, always appreciate you being prompt, ahead of schedule and willing to take on more.
 
Being efficient is something that needs to be applauded more in the work place vs. criticized.  While it is true that you can miss things by being too speedy (don’t sacrifice the quality of your work for being the first one to finish), take pride in not wasting your time or that of others.  The more efficient you are, the more effective you can be for your team and organization.  This philosophy has served me over and over again, even if it means that I am the one left frustrated waiting on others, but at least I know I have delivered.

So, what are the pros of being efficient or “overly efficient” as a someone from a siesta-taking country once described me:

  1. Sense of accomplishment from something even as small as ticking off something on your to do list.
  2. Opening you up to spend more time on bigger projects.  
  3. Getting closer to finishing a project – the sooner you get your part done, the sooner you can send it off and so on.
  4. Ensuring you have time to take into account any revisions that need to be made.  If you complete a task ahead of schedule, you can share it with your boss or peers and still have time to make changes before hitting the submit button.  
  5. Early reward. If you submit an application earlier, you may receive the response earlier.
  6. Shows that you are prepared.  If you complete an assignment before it is due, it shows to your boss that you had done the research/homework in advance.  Another similar positive is that it is a testament to you being knowledgeable, unfazed and confident.  
  7. Shows willingness.  You are not sitting around complaining about the task at hand and just get it done, regardless of what the job is.  I remember having to explain to a direct report of a non-profit that even the Director of our department makes photocopies and nothing is too beneath them when a job needs to get done (topic for another article).
  8. That’s how you work!  I have a certain type of personality where I feel better when I get things off my plate as soon as they hit my inbox. I enjoy working that way because otherwise there is the danger that it will be put on the backburner, the notes I have made on the project will not be as clear to me the next day, and if I have the time, why not do it straight away?  I am not saying that you drop everything and make the things as soon as they come into your inbox your number one priority, but if it’s an easy response or something is fresh in your mind, why not?  
  9. You enjoy your vacation more.  I know you are saying “no way you enjoy your vacation more if you are constantly on”.  Here, I am not saying that you need to be on 7 hours a day but checking say your email either first thing in the morning or at the very end of the day, or when your husband is getting his 10th coffee of the day, allows you to have the peace of mind of knowing that things are not falling through the cracks. You are not going to come back to 1000+ emails, many of which can easily be responded to, forwarded, addressed without accumulating clutter for when you return.  I feel that many people need a 2nd vacation as soon as they get home from vacation and see what they are coming back to in terms of unanswered emails, all of which can be avoided if you check your emails just once a day.
 
While none of this is rocket science and may not work for all but it makes me effective and I am happily associated with the American way. I am proud to work like an American!

​===
Related Columns: 
Being an International Early Stage Professional
Default to Action
Working Outside Office Hours

Also by this writer Careers Happen


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More Wise Words

Achieve: Focus on Results
​
Achieve: Leading from the Start
Achieve: Small is BIG
Achieve: Take Action
Career Management: Annual Review. A "How To"
Career Management: Annual Review. As Career Plan
Career Management: Choosing a Mentor
Career Management: Careers Happen
Career Management: Career Journey
Career Management: Mentorship Explained
​
Career Management: Post Graduate Degrees
Career Management: Promotion Frustration 
Career Management: Moving up by moving out
Career Management: Selecting Your Company
Career Management: Understand Yourself
Finances: Retirement Saving (1)
Finances: Retirement Saving (2)
Hindsight: Balance the short- with the long-term
​Hindsight: Embrace learning and your manager
Hindsight: Focus at Work
Hindsight: Millennial Reflections
Hindsight: Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
​Hindsight: Take Advice Sparingly
Hindsight: Take a Career Mulligan
​
Hindsight: Transition from College
Hindsight: Winning Nicely
Hindsight: Work hard, network, be honest. Have fun too!
Managing Up: Manage Up to Move Up
Managing Up: Manager As Partner
Managing Up: New Manager
Managing Up: Questions for your manager
Managing Up: Secret Skills for Managing Up
​
People & Teamwork: Be A Giver
​
People & Teamwork: LinkedIn As Networking
People & Teamwork: Networking Hacks
People & Teamwork: Networking as a Relationship
People & Teamwork: Networking Simplified
People & Teamwork: Teamwork As Leadership
Speedbumps: Chutes & Ladders
​
Speedbumps: Laid Off? Take A Breath
Speedbumps: Layoffs. The Afterlife
Speedbumps: Owning Mistakes
Work Life: Work Culture. America vs. UK
Work Life: Ask Why
Work Life: Be Yourself. Be Genuine
​
Work Life: Browned Out?
Work Life: Business Travel Guide
Work Life: Calendar Management
Work Life: Difficult Situations
Work Life: Focus on Fiyah!
​Work Life: Ghosting
​
Work Life: Help the Early Stage Professionals
Work Life: International Remote Working
Work Life: Pre-Vacation Checklist
Work Life: Smartphones & The Office
​Work Life: Start-Up Glamor
Work Life: Stress Management
Work Life: Take a Walk
​
Work Life: They Quit
Work Life: Unlimited Vacation
Work Life: Welcome the Newbies
Work Life: "Work" from Home

Crushing It @ Work

What Time Should I Start? 
What If I am Running Late? 
Taking Vacation
Sick Days 
Working Outside Office Hours
​
How to prepare for One/Ones
Making Meetings on Time 
Business Presentations 
Social Media, Personal Email and Hanging Out on the Web
Give it Six to Nine Months to Feel @Home
Be Your-professional-self
Staying Positive

Job Search Must Do's

Resume
The Application Letter 
​
The Free Conundrum: Should You Take an Unpaid Internship?
Informational Interviews 
Taking a Shortcut: Using Your Network 
Dealing with a Low GPA
​Responding to Recruiters
The Job Interview
Interview Questions
Questions You Should Ask
Simulations 
Interviews with Other Applicants
Dealing with References
Negotiating Your Salary
How to Resign (if you already have a job)
​
The First Week
You Don't Get the Job: Getting Feedback
​Keeping Motivated Through the Search

USA Today Columns by Fergus Mellon

How to get started on LinkedIn: Do this, not that
Warning: Avoid smartphone shame at work.  Keep them out of sight
To succeed, be a Giver in the workplace, not a Taker
4 ghoulish personality pitfalls to steer clear of at the office
​
How to coach today's not so entitled Millennials as they join the rat race

Crushing IT

Money

Library

WISE WORDS

Bureaucracy

Copyright © 2016 - 2020
  • Home
  • Getting a job
    • Must Do's - Resume
    • Must Do's - Application Letter
    • Must Do's - Internships
    • Groundwork - Informational Interviews
    • Groundwork - Your Network
    • Groundwork - GPA Issues
    • Groundwork - Recruiters
    • Dealing with Rejection - Feedback
    • Dealing with Rejection - Keeping Motivated
    • Closing the Deal - The Interview
    • Closing the Deal - Interview Q's
    • Closing the Deal - Your Questions
    • Closing the Deal - Simulations
    • Closing the Deal - Group Interviews
    • Closing the Deal - References
    • Signing On - Salary Negotiation
    • Signing On - How to Resign
    • Signing On - First Week
  • Crushing It
    • The Hours - What Time Should I Start
    • The Hours - What If I Am Running Late?
    • The Hours - Taking Vacation
    • The Hours - Sick Days
    • The Hours - Working Outside Office Hours
    • Professional Skills - One/Ones
    • Professional Skills- Making Meetings on Time
    • Professional Skills - Business Presentations
    • Professional Skills - Social Media, Personal Email
    • A Level Head - Feeling @ Home
    • A Level Head - Be YourProfessionalSelf
    • A Level Head- Staying Positive
  • Wise Words
    • Achieve - Focus on the Results
    • Achieve - Leading from the Start
    • Achieve - Showcase Your Work
    • Achieve - Small is BIG
    • Achieve - Take Action
    • Achieve - Your New Job. A Plan
    • Career Management - Annual Review
    • Career Management - Annual Review Feedback Meeting
    • Career Management - Annual Review: How to Guide
    • Career Management - Career Contentment
    • Career Management - Careers Happen
    • Career Management - Career Journey
    • Career Management - Choosing a Mentor
    • Career Management - Discomfort Is Good
    • Career Management - Freelancing and Employment Gaps
    • Career Management - Mentally Healthy Choices
    • Career Management - Mentorship Explained
    • Career Management - Post Graduate Degrees
    • Career Management - Promotion Frustration
    • Career Management - Promotions. Move out to move up
    • Career Management - Selecting Your Company
    • Career Management - Understand Yourself
    • Finances - Preparing for a Downturn
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (1)
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (2)
    • Hindsight - Balance the Short- with Long -term
    • Hindsight - Embrace Learning & Your Manager
    • Hindsight - Focus at Work
    • Hindsight - Millennial Reflections
    • Hindsight - Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
    • Hindsight - Take a Career Mulligan
    • Hindsight - Take Advice Sparingly
    • Hindsight - Transition from College
    • Hindsight - Winning Nicely
    • Hindsight - Work Hard. Be Honest. Have Fun
    • Managing Up - Manager as Partner
    • Managing Up - Manage Up to Move Up
    • Managing Up - Mastering Your Manager
    • Managing Up - New Manager
    • Managing Up - Questions For Your Manager
    • Managing Up - Secret Skills of Managing Up
    • Managing Up - Yes Power
    • People & Teamwork - Be a Giver
    • People & Teamwork - Collaboration is Power
    • People & Teamwork - First Time Manager
    • People & Teamwork - LinkedIn as Networking
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Hacks
    • People & Teamwork - Networking as Relationship
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Simplified
    • People & Teamwork - Reputations Travel
    • People & Teamwork - Teamwork as Leadership
    • Sliding Doors - Decision Paths
    • Sliding Doors - Success Requires Luck
    • Speed Bumps - Chutes & Ladders
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs & Survivors Guilt
    • Speed Bumps - Laid Off? Take a Breath
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs. The After Life
    • Speed Bumps - Owning Mistakes
    • Work Life - American Work Culture
    • Work Life - Ask Why
    • Work Life - Be Yourself. Be Genuine
    • Work Life - Browned Out?
    • Work Life - Business Travel Guide
    • Work Life - Calendar Management
    • Work Life - Change is Certain
    • Work Life - Difficult Situations
    • Worklife - Focus on Fiyah
    • Work Life - Ghosting
    • Work Life - Help the Early Stage Professionals
    • Work Life- International Remote Working
    • Work Life - In the Zoom
    • Work Life - Mom Skills
    • Work Life - Office As A Stage
    • Work Life - Office Ghouls
    • Work Life - Pre Vacation Checklist
    • Work Life - Returning to Work
    • Work Life - Smartphones & The Office
    • Work Life - Speak Up
    • Work Life - Stage Fright
    • Work Life - Startup Glamour
    • Work Life - Stress Management
    • Work Life - Take A Walk
    • Work Life - Tasks We Hate
    • Work Life - They Quit
    • Work Life - Unlimited Vacation
    • Worklife - Vacation Overview
    • Work Life - Welcome the Newbies
    • Work Life - "Work" From Home
  • Money
    • Money - The Basics
    • Money - Saving for Retirement
    • Money - Retirement Saving
  • Library
    • Book Reviews
    • Webinar Hub
    • USA Today Columns
    • Buy Early Stage Professional
    • Bureaucracy
  • Help Center
    • Annual Reviews
    • Career Speed Bumps
    • Managing Up
    • Promotions & Career Planning
    • Stress Management