Workplace Do's and Don'ts

Do keep the gatekeeper happy.

While at work, you will likely be faced with one of the following situations:

• You are undertaking a task and in order to finalize it, you need to go through people to get to someone in a more powerful position.
• You may have an idea and you want to speak with someone about developing it.
• You are trying to find an "in" at the company and want to know more about someone's schedule in hopes of catching a few minutes of his or her time.

In order to get through to this person in the more powerful position you need to go through the gatekeeper (think: executive assistant or secretary).

For the gatekeeper to let you through, you need to keep them happy otherwise they won't be as willing to go out their way to you.

Some tips to keeping the gatekeeper happy are:

• Be kind and always remember your manners.
  
• Do something unexpected and generous. For example if you are trying to get through to gatekeeper in the morning hours bring doughnuts or coffee - it will put the gatekeeper in a better mood.
• Ask them about themselves and continue to build the relationship after your task has completed-- you'll never know when you need to get back to the head honcho!