Learn to listen. Not just to your peers, but to everyone. Don't just hear the words they are saying, give them meaning, build a mental model, and be able to re-

Learn to listen. Not just to your peers, but to everyone. Don't just hear the words they are saying, give them meaning, build a mental model, and be able to re-itterate their statements into your own language (even if you don't share these things out loud). Listening skills are going to get you FAR in business and life, and your going to hear lots of stuff that has nothing to do with your job. Learn NOT to repeat every thing you hear. Sadly offices have as much gossip if not more than your average high school. Once people know they can trust you to keep your mouth shut, a well spring of interesting knowledge is going to start to fall in your lap. Some times this is just personal drama, but knowing that person A has a grudge with person B can some times be a clue to how a situation is going to resolve itself.