4 Ways to Be a Froot Loop in an Office Full of Cheerios

“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” ― Coco Chanel

Think about it. The average software engineer does not invent the latest technology. The average governor does not become the President of the United States. The average candidate does not get hired and the average employee does not get promoted.

You will never influence the world by being just like it. You need to learn to differentiate yourself from others and give yourself the competitive advantage. Below are four simple traits to tie into your personal brand. Doing so will set you apart from the Cheerios―average employees― and show that you are a Froot Loop―an irreplaceable exceptional employee.

Be Punctual

Cheerios occasionally arrive to meetings on time, but they are more likely to show up 1-2 minutes late.

Froot Loop hack: Show up 3-5 minutes early for meetings.

A wise man once told me a good meeting always starts on time and ends five minutes early. Don’t you wish everyone believed that? Ending the meeting earlier leaves time to:

1. Prepare for your next meeting.
2. Prepare yourself for note taking.
3. Ensure the display is set up for the presentation.

You should be in place, ready for the meeting when the meeting is supposed to start.

When I worked for Google, our team followed the 50/25 meeting format. Our calendar’s defaulted to 50 minute meetings vs. 60 minute meetings or 25 minutes vs. 30 minutes. The gap in between meetings provides a chance to check emails. In turn, less employees will be checking their emails during the meeting, making the meeting more productive. The extra minutes returned will give you valuable time that can be used to prepare for the next task or to recoup in the break room.

Be Prepared

Cheerios attend a meeting or review session and then get to work. They may even go the extra mile once the work has been assigned.

Froot Loop hack: Put the extra work in ahead of time.

As an over achiever, you probably plan to go above and beyond anyway. So why not start sooner than asked or expected? For example:

• If a task is assigned to you, think of more than one way to approach it. Do both ways. In the follow up meeting, if the first review doesn’t go over well, you are already prepared with a second iteration.
• If you see an issue arise, come up with the solution prior to presenting the problem. You’re ready to tackle anything coming your way.
• To increase meeting productivity, send out a brief recap of what to expect in the upcoming meeting. This will bring the topic back to memory if the meeting is reoccurring and it can also be used as a reminder for employees to ensure they come prepared with completed assignments.

Imagine how many meetings would increase in productivity with a work-ahead employee attending. The extra work done ahead of time will pay off in dividends when deadlines are easier to hit and meetings are more productive.

I was once tasked with drafting a new Paid Time Off (PTO) policy. When delivering the new policy to senior management, I also delivered a communication strategy including an email brief and a plan to mitigate legal issues in states that require PTO payout. Because I thought ahead and prepared for the delivery, I saved myself from having two additional meetings to cover email communication and liability coverage, and saved time waiting for approvals at each stage. We hashed through each item in one very productive meeting and rolled out the new policy several weeks quicker than expected.

Value Human Interaction

Cheerios send most communications via email therefore avoiding human interaction.

Froot Loop hack: Seek out human interaction and give your full attention, including positive body language.

I’m not saying to sacrifice productivity by seeking human interaction. Just remember, certain conversations are better in person and need complete attention. Especially if you are a manager, you need to show that you are invested and that you care. Every conversation you have with a team member, a new hire, a manager, or a subordinate deserves your devoted attention. Your attitude about the subject at hand will be displayed more effectively with your presence. Practice listening with your body:

• Stop whatever task you are doing.
• Face the individual with whom you are conversing.
• Keep your arms loose.
• Make eye contact.
• Smile and be engaged.

If you are in the middle of something that cannot be paused, kindly ask the person to give you 30 seconds to finish your train of thought or ask if you can come speak with them when you are free.

I once had a cool boss with a big flaw. She would frequently zone out in one-on-one meetings. Mid project review, she would pull out her phone and totally disengage. She thought she was multi-tasking. When waiting for a response or follow up, she would simply gloss over the conversation and say “Yeah sounds good. Go ahead.” This conversation should have left me feeling empowered to continue with my project. Since the body language showed me the project wasn’t important to my manager, the empowerment was wasted. Regardless of her intention, I was left guessing if she actually supported the project or not. My work felt meaningless. It was difficult to continue without genuine support and validation from my manager.

Be Coachable

Cheerios state “I already know” if somebody, other than their manager, repeats knowledge to them.

Froot Loop hack: Let others help you (fake it if you have to) and be grateful for the help.

Sam walks by your desk and reminds you that the team meeting was moved to 1:00pm.

Cheerio you responds with, “Thanks, I know!”;

Froot Loop you responds with, “Great, thanks for informing me!”

Both are appropriate responses, but which one makes Sam feel more important? Which response makes Sam more inclined to coach or give advice in the future when you actually might need the help?

“At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou

Treat every employee and every team member like they have important knowledge to teach you. Show your gratitude for the help. Be the morale booster on the team by calling out specific times when a co-worker helped you. Showing your humility and ability to learn at all levels will be very impressive to those around you and rewarding to yourself.

Be the Froot Loop

Simple tweaks on things you probably already do well can make all the difference in getting noticed. Using these hacks, you may find yourself tasked with special assignments, asked to join new committees, or receiving a promotion. Be punctual, value human interaction, be prepared, and be coachable. Put some color into your usual routine.

“Be different, stand out, and work your butt off.” ― Reba McEntire

How are you a Fruit Loop among Cheerios?