First Thing Monday #12
This week: Text don't call first, lessons from Phoebe Philo, and tips to manage oversharing 📱👝☕
☀️ Good morning y’all and welcome to all our new subscribers! I’m so glad you’re here. We had an AMAZING meal at Saltbox Seafood Joint in Durham this weekend. I’m going to try some new recipes from Chef Ricky Moore’s cookbook this month. Stay tuned!
☑️ FTM is a weekly newsletter that includes a recap of all the news Millennial and Gen Z leaders need to know to help make better decisions about their careers. Each issue also includes four tips for developing better relationships in your workplace. Weekly issues come out on Monday mornings!
❓ Have a work question or topics you’d like us to discuss? Drop me a line 📱 misterfantastiksubstack@gmail.com or leave us a comment below!
I’m Jon Cochran, a consumer goods executive with 15 years of experience leading sales, marketing, and product development teams and working with brands like J.Crew, Hilton, and Mattel. I want to provide resources to help you take control of your career and maximize your satisfaction in the workplace.
⏰ What to read before your first meeting:
The new phone call etiquette: Text first and never leave a voice mail (Washington Post): When I led a sales team pre-pandemic, I made 20-30 customer calls per day, many of which ended up in a voicemail. If you’re trying to get in touch with people these days, text is best!
Generational Divides: The Do’s and Don’ts of Generational Labels (California Management Review): Yes, generational labels can be helpful in identifying trends in behaviors. But they can also be an excuse people use for poor communication skills for those labeling and those labeled.
Becoming fluent in Emoji (The Sentinel Echo): My obsession with the ever-evolving world of emojis knows no bounds. That also means I have to stay up on what means what these days. Ruby’s story about the changing meaning of emojis, like the “thumbs up,” may cause you to think differently about how or why you use them. I am now obsessed with Ruby!
College-degree requirement can limit qualified applicants (The Reflector): Companies like Apple, Tesla, IBM, Delta Airlines, Hilton, and Walmart no longer require a college degree for certain corporate positions. This change seems positive, as some of these companies are also increasing the education and training benefits they offer to employees. However, there is a difference between interviewing folks without degrees and then actually hiring them.
The Office Isn't Dead -- It's Just Becoming More Like a Luxury Hotel (Inc Magazine): This story sounds much like those we heard pre-pandemic: give employees “fancy” amenities and they will love your company. There’s not much that a Snarkitechture-designed office or an art gallery in the lobby could do to make a commute shorter or awkward exchanges easier!
🚰 The Water Cooler
Phoebe Philo is back on October 30. She previously said she’d be back in September and shared this update on September 30. Do what you say you’re going to do, Phoebe! I know some stressed-out fashionistas (me) who were relieved by this news.
Sports Illustrated Resort coming to Tuscaloosa in late 2025. The Bama Rush of it all makes sense—get those alumni back in town and let them live their college dreams again!
She said, “At Paris Fashion Week, a Poverty of Imagination.” I’ve followed Cathy Horyn for YEARS and I still find myself gagged by her insights.
What does the Mute Challenge look like in a movie theater!? Earlier this summer, we were able to score Club Renaissance tickets for the Beyoncé show in Pittsburgh. Then the show got canceled! So I am going to make sure I get to an AMC on December 1. This might be my only chance to wear my chromed-out look!
📖 Reflections for this week:
For yourself: Do you have a budget for professional development? If so, should you attend any conferences this year or next? Attending industry or subject-matter-focused events, conferences, or trade shows can all help deepen your expertise. It’s also a nice way to meet some like-minded folks who, at least, might be cool, or at most, might be able to help you make your next professional move.
For your boss: Keep your supervisor engaged in your work by asking for their advice on decisions or projects. This act will show them that you value their expertise, and it also includes them in the process. Make sure to keep them updated on progress and achievements, too—regular updates will help them feel engaged and informed on how you and your team are doing.
For your direct report(s): A little reminder to balance your social interactions with your team. It’s okay to engage in casual conversations and team-building activities, but be mindful of not oversharing or becoming overly familiar. You are in control of what topics get discussed, so keep the discussion focused on appropriate subjects (no gossip) and you’ll be fine.
For your co-workers: Don’t forget that respect and courtesy can go a long way. Regardless of your co-workers’ position or role, the way you treat them says the most about you. Show consideration for their feelings and needs; offer support when appropriate. Each time you treat someone well, you earn a little more credit with them.
⚡️ And one last thing…
Can we talk oversharing for a minute? My first encounter with this word came from a bit in The Sarah Silverman Program—used to describe somebody who was just telling you things you did not need to know. In a different time, Too Much Information or TMI made sense as a catchall phrase for some kinds of behaviors. For me, oversharing best described a behavior I saw myself engage in, and what I’ve experienced with others: when you disclose an inappropriate amount of detail about your personal life.
As a supervisor, you have to have an almost “Spidey-sense” of how to balance vulnerability and boundaries. The goal is to open up to your team while still prioritizing their boundaries and your own. The best leaders know when to pause and check in with their emotions before they become too much. When a manager says to their team, “I’m overwhelmed, and I don’t know what to do right now” there is a possibility that folks will take on that emotion themselves, or even worse, lose faith and/or respect for their supervisor’s ability to lead. You can acknowledge your feelings without going into more detail and avoid unnecessary anxiety for your people.
Ask yourself, “How would I feel if my manager said this to me?” Reflect on your intentions and check in to see if you’re sharing from a place of authenticity or if you are trying to fake a connection with someone. If Gen Z teaches us nothing else, they can smell inauthenticity a mile away. But so can many of the rest of us, and we don’t have to live like that! Be a professional, and leave the details of your doctor’s appointments for your group texts!
See you next week!
Follow me on Instagram at @mistersfantastik
What do people do with "cold call" texts? What's your advice for receiving texts from people who want to talk to you, but maybe you don't know them yet?
Needed the reminder about conferences. We're already looking at 2024 😅