What's in a Name?

I see this happening in work places across the world. People remember names only when there is a designation associated with it. Have you ever wondered - do you name of the janitor who works on your office floor? What about the security card you met the other late evening who escorted you to your car in the parking lot? Do you remember him / her? Now, do you remember the VP you met in the elevator while you were going to your car? You remember his / her name right?

If the answer was YES then you are missing out on a major network that the executive work-force relies on - speaking to the janitors / cleaners / clerks / guards etc. etc.

This is what happens in the corporate world - there is a large web of reference networks that take place where your skills are referred to and you get a job but it is the "other" network that helps you grow in an organization. Think about it like this - if you need some face time with the CEO you better be nice to the Admin assistant sitting outside the CEO's office. She will tell you when the CEO is leaving to get into the car so that you can "accidentally bump into the CEO" in the elevator.

This is the story - the person who stops by your office to pick up the trash also stops by the VP's office to pick the trash. The VP relies on networking with the right folks at the right time. He / She asks the janitor his name and then next time on always speaks to him with his name, asking him how he is doing and so on.

So the story goes that one day the janitor tells the VP that he just picked up trash in your office and you were in a bad mood and yelling on the phone. You just blew that promotion because you, one, did not ever talk to the janitor, and two, you forgot the basic courtesy of greeting the janitor using his name.

So, the next time around, you see the janitor or the cleaner or the guard, take a minute to talk to him / her and help them help you. What's in a name you ask? Plenty I say. Think about it.