1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to gift trap your work. Do a 4 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,599 Speaker 1: good job on the substance of your work, of course, 5 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: but also pay attention to how you are presenting it. 6 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: Often the latter is the difference between the recipient being 7 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: satisfied or delighted. I am sure you can recall times 8 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: when someone presented their work in a way that was 9 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: particularly thoughtful. Maybe it's a mechanic who, after working on 10 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: your car, make sure that the radio station and mirrors 11 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: are just as you left them. The driver's seat is 12 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: adjusted so that you can reach the pedals, perhaps even 13 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,319 Speaker 1: backed the car into the parking place so you can 14 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:05,759 Speaker 1: just hop in and drive away. Of course, you primarily 15 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: care whether the mechanic fixed the issue in question, and 16 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: it certainly wouldn't be a big deal to adjust the 17 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: seat or to back out the car. But not having 18 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: to do those things makes you feel cared for your car. 19 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: Mechanic has gift wrapped his work. The same sort of 20 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: care is appreciated from knowledge workers too. Maybe it's a 21 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: colleague who emails you several questions that are numbered for 22 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: ease of responding, or the person who sends you a 23 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: document that could be sent as is, but he also 24 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: uses comment bubbles to highlight and make notes about sections 25 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: that you might want to handle differently. That is so 26 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: much more convenient than getting a separate, lengthy email about 27 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: potential changes. By contrast, I am sure we have all 28 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: also received work, even really good work that has come 29 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: asome to process. You kind of have to grit your 30 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 1: teeth to get through it. Who wants that? When there 31 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 1: is another option, When we put ourselves in the shoes 32 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: of those who will receive our work, we can present 33 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: it in ways that will be convenient and welcome. Just 34 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 1: like pretty wrapping paper and bows make a gift feel special, 35 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: a thoughtfully presented piece of work, we'll make the recipient 36 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: appreciate it more. Now, the best wrapping paper depends on 37 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: the recipient, but here are a few universal guidelines. First, 38 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 1: make sure you have fulfilled the expectation without extraneous information. 39 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: If your boss asks for a list of potential speakers 40 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: for an upcoming event, provide a list of recommendations with 41 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: notes about why each person might be good and links 42 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: to their easily accessible bios because you have checked those links, 43 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: of course, or pasted in a very short version of each. 44 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: This isn't the time to talk about changing the venue, 45 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: or about how last year's gift bags or about how 46 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 1: last year's gift bags were underwhelming. You also want to 47 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 1: be clear on what you're delivering in any action required. 48 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: This can often be handled in an email subject line, 49 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 1: for instance, agenda for Friday's meeting for your review by 50 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: Thursday a m. If any information is contained elsewhere, like 51 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: a shared drive, be sure to say what that is 52 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: and how to get it. And this is something that 53 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: is often ignored but does matter. Make sure you are 54 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: presenting your work at a time the recipient will appreciate it. 55 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: Everyone wants to get what they asked for before the 56 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: hard deadline for receiving it. Beyond that, though, it's a 57 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: nice touch to avoid delivering something at four pm. If 58 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: everyone leaves the office US at five pm. If you 59 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: know the person is going on vacation, all the better 60 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: reason to get it in before departure. Regardless of the specifics, 61 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: putting some thought into how you present your work allows 62 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: your good work to shine. People don't get caught up 63 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 1: in retrieving lost information or wondering where things are or 64 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 1: not knowing what's required. You might feel a little sheepish 65 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 1: going to a fancy birthday party and presenting a gift 66 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: with Christmas wrapping paper that is half falling off. I mean, yes, 67 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,479 Speaker 1: it's the thought that counts. But part of thinking of 68 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 1: another person is thinking about how they might be delighted. 69 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: Gift wrapping can help with that, and gift wrapping our 70 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 1: work is just as important. In the meantime. This is Laura. 71 00:04:55,920 --> 00:05:00,359 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of 72 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you. 73 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else. 74 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 1: Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at 75 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast Pod that's b E the number four, then 76 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: Breakfast p o D. You can also shoot me an 77 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: email at Before Breakfast podcast at i heeart media dot 78 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 1: com that Before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters. 79 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: Thanks so much, I look forward to staying in touch. 80 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast is a production of I Heart Radio. For 81 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 1: more podcasts from my heart Radio, visit the i heart 82 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,359 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 83 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: favorite shows.