Sage Advice?

Chatting to someone younger than me (aren't they all?) on the plane, this guy asked me "what's the one piece of advice you'd give to a new MBA just starting their first job?"

I'd have to say "manage expectations". In terms of both personal and professional success, it's the one key thing that's always in play. Sure, there are other things you could think of - help people develop themselves; know yourself; teamwork; etc. - but if I had only one choice it would still be that.

Managing expectations allows you to know how to win and sets the proper framework within which others will judge you and what you get done. Of course, there's a lot to learn about how to do this and how to adapt the methods for doing so to different situations, but none of this negates the fact that this is still one of the most important skills to acquire and develop.

Just wish it hadn't taken me quite so many years to figure it out!