Marcy Schwab

Listen. Listen. And listen some more. Stop talking and start listening. Pay attention to what people are saying and not saying. Notice body language and how people interact with each other and with you. By listening and paying closer attention, you will almost certainly notice more about yourself. You can be more intentional about how you approach a situation if you spend time understanding it.

The closer you are to the top level, the more equity compensation is usually a part of the package. More senior = higher percentage of equity of the overall comp package. Your goals need to align with the way Wall Street (or investors, or other stakeholders) value the business. Before worrying about how much equity compensation you will be granted, ensure your work lines up with the results that are valued. Once you have established that alignment, then evaluate how the organization incorporates equity into compensation and your seniority to make it equitable.

Consider the impact of the behavior on which you’re providing feedback. If the impact of the feedback doesn’t mean anything to your manager, he/she will not be interested or pay attention to the rest. Your boss needs to be invested in a better outcome. If the impact has meaning, then share the observable behavior you experienced and what he/she might have done differently.

Problem solving is all about asking questions. And asking some more. It’s so important to make sure you are solving for the “right” problem. Often, we think the problem or opportunity is one thing, and we discover that it’s something else. Think critically about what questions to ask and listen carefully so you can ask the best follow up question. Even if you’re solving your own problem, there are other perspectives that can be helpful in identifying the opportunity or way to make progress.

When working virtually, create opportunities ifor informal communication. Lunch and learns, book clubs, office hours, any reason to just catch up and talk to one another without a formal agenda. Working together happens best when you know and like one another.

Doing something close to the due date isn’t necessarily procrastination. Many people find that working close to a deadline is more efficient and more motivating. Those same people will express that they focus better when under pressure. So, “procrastination” isn’t necessarily something to overcome. Embrace your own style. Getting something accomplished and done well is the goal.