COMMUNICATION

Arriving at the Office in the Morning.

"Good Morning."

Conversation with a Subordinate

"If you want to learn the business, this is the kind of job you do."

"And this is how you do it."

"OK, now get started."

Conversation with a Colleague

"I wasn't aware of that."

"Hope it turns out for the best."

Ending a Conversation with a Colleague

"I gotta run."

Telling a Colleague to Get Lost

"Let's do lunch."

Calling an In-Person Meeting

Never call an In-Person Meeting with more than one person.

If you have to call a meeting with more than one person, have a subordinate lead it.

That will get everyone's attention. They will behave.

Arriving at an In-Person Meeting that Somebody Else Schedules.

"Hello."

Rummage through files or apps on your device.

Leave before they schedule another one.

"Gotta run."

Conversations with Competitors, Customers and Anyone else over drinks and hors d'oeuvres

"It;s not the heat, it's the humidity."

"Traffic on the BQE is worse than Djakarta."

"How about them Yankees?"

Being Admitted to a Zoom Meeting

Wave.

No need to say anything.

Conversations on Zoom

Stay on mute.

If you have to support or reject an idea, just nod--as in "yes," or shake your head--as in "no."

If asked a direct question, fiddle with the sound or display buttons on your device.

Leaving Zoom

Wave.

No need to say anything.

Conversation with the Boss

"That's a really exciting idea -- when do we start?"

Getting an Assignment from the Boss

"Thanks! I'll get right on it."

Updating the Boss on the Assignment

"On schedule -- should be done by COB Thursday."

" I've uncovered an issue that needs to be addressed if it's to be done right. I'll need the weekend."

Turning the Assignment In

"In the interests of time, I left out the supporting data."

"The key issues are all in the Summary on page One."

Taking Feedback from the Boss on the Assignment

"Thanks for the feedback! I'll get right on it."

Leaving the Office at Night

"Good night."