In the Fall I will be taking on a new endeavor: teaching a course at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business for juniors and seniors on “Managing Professional Relationships.” As I prepare for the class, I think back to my own senior year in 1968 at the University of Michigan and wonder, “What advice do I wish I had received about managing professional relationships in my own career?”
Furthermore, I wonder “what advice do I wish I had received from more experienced people about how to plan and prepare for my career?”
Today, rather than giving you advice, I am seeking your feedback on the following questions to help me prepare for the class.
- What is the best piece of advice you have for college juniors and seniors about successfully managing professional relationships?
- What is your advice to them about managing their careers during first few years out of college?
- Do you advise going straight into the workplace or taking some time to work in the non-profit world or to do something else?
- What advice do you wish you had received when you were 21 years old about planning for your future?
- What topics do you think I should cover in my course?
I am excited about teaching this course, and appreciate your feedback on what to include and emphasize. I also want to remind you to be an active mentor to the youngest people in your organization. No matter what our age, we have wisdom which we should be passing on to those younger than ourselves.