A few days ago, I officially marked my 20th anniversary working for the greatest legal team on the planet: the Microsoft Corporate, External & Legal Affairs team.
While it’s hard to believe that I joined Microsoft 20 years ago on December 2, 2002, it continues to be an absolute honor and privilege to work at Microsoft. I want to thank all of my terrific Microsoft teammates over the years who have made me a better lawyer, a better leader and a better person.
Since I have also been a lawyer “in the field” serving our world class sales teams during my Microsoft career, I also want to thank our outstanding customers and partners for the opportunity to earn their trust.
At this point in my career, I pride myself in being a coach and mentor to help develop the next generation of great Microsoft lawyers and legal professionals.
To commemorate my 20 years at Microsoft, here’s 20 things that I have learned which may be helpful to you in the workplace:
☑️ Wellness, Wellness, Wellness: Taking care of your mental and physical well-beings are your most important investments.
☑️ Change is the Only Constant: Embrace change and never fear it.
☑️ Always Be Learning: Don’t be a “know it all.” Be a “learn it all.”
☑️ Simplify: Don’t overengineer matters. Instead, decomplexify them.
☑️ Offer Solutions: When identifying potential issues, also provide meaningful problem-solving solutions.
☑️ Integrity is Everything: Be highly ethical and never compromise your integrity.
☑️ Be Kind: Always be nice, respectful and professional with everyone.
☑️ Exude Confidence: Be self-assured and believe in yourself.
☑️ Play Bigger Than Your Role: Perform your job at a high level by going above and beyond.
☑️ Ruthless Prioritization: Make it a habit to relentlessly prioritize your work.
☑️ Earn Trust With Others: Trust cannot be claimed. Trust must constantly be earned.
☑️ Seek Feedback & Be Coachable: Ask for and embrace feedback from others
☑️ Make Your Teammates Better: Always provide high value to your teammates and constantly share your knowledge with them.
☑️ Drive Clarity: As Brene Brown like to say, “being clear is kind.” Overcommunicate when needed.
☑️ Be Humble & Energetic: Remain hungry, thankful and enthusiastic.
☑️ Keep Things in Perspective: Unlike doctors, firefighters and other first responders, most of our work does not involve saving lives. Stay balanced and keep your job in perspective.
☑️ Toot Your Horn: Advocate for yourself by actively messaging the positive impact of your work to your management team.
☑️ Relationships Matter: The workplace is not a meritocracy. Build deep relationships with senior leaders.
☑️ Inclusivity: The highest performing teams are those who are highly inclusive.
☑️ Remain Optimistic: While your career journey will have its up’s and downs, always stay positive.
