"In Good Company" - Reel Life Lessons At Work (Part II)
In Good Company is a refreshing comedy, rallying against
corporate treachery and mass globalisation. Behind the laughs,
the Hollywood blockbuster carries some important lessons for the
first days on your new job!
First Impressions
Why do actors get typecast? Keanu Reeves finds it easier to
shake off a legion of demons than his Neo character in
Constantine; Bruce Willis dies hard even as a doting father in
Unbreakable; and Cameron Diaz by any other name is still as
sweet. Because it saves the director some very precious screen
time presenting a character to the audience. Need to portray a
middle-aged advertising sales manager who has dedicated 20 years
to the job? Dennis Quaid fits the bill perfectly. And one look
at Topher Grace already prepares you for his hilarious rendition
of a whiny and inexperienced marketing whiz kid.
What first impressions do you create? People typically make up
their minds about you two minutes after shaking your hand.
That's 120 seconds. Or approximately the time it takes to dig
your nose in public - which, incidentally, kills your image and
is a huge no-no. Make the effort to wake earlier on your first
day, arrive 10 minutes ahead of time, and dress sharper than
usual. First impressions last, and you do not want to be
remembered for the cabbage in between your teeth.
After Work Fun
Dan Foreman shows off some fancy moves when his advertising
sales team takes to the court in the department basketball
match. Determined to prove he is a winner, despite his
considerable age, he inadvertently injures himself in the
process. While we snigger at the pre-historic Dan, this episode
shows how you, too, can score points outside the office.
Many companies have formal or informal after-hour activities,
ranging from football games to a couple of drinks at the nearest
watering hole. These are excellent opportunities to bond with
the new colleagues. Get involved, but do not overdo it. As in
all things, moderation is the key. You do not want to end up
with a cast on your arm, nor insanely inebriated after happy
hour.
Personal Business
We see Dan taking his daughter Alex out for a game of tennis
during office hours, which could be acceptable - or not,
depending on company policy. But when Carter Duryea takes the
abovementioned out for lunch, stares smitten at her photograph
on his computer monitor, and starts a relationship with her,
alarm bells go off.
Studies reveal that most of us are guilty of sneaking in some
amount of personal business on company time: Checking email,
buying stuff online, instant messaging. The aim is to keep these
private distractions to a minimum and stay focussed on work. Two
more rules here. Number one: You do not start dating the
daughter of the man whose job you are taking over. And number
two: You do not violate rule number one. Such romances only
serve to complicate matters and are advised against, especially
on the first day of the job!