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Posts Tagged ‘Office’

What Not to Do at the Office

Monday, July 6th, 2009

You’re probably tired of hearing about how the recession is affecting so many things, especially the job market. If you have a job and even if you feel pretty secure in it, you may still want to take notice to some common-sense type tips of things not to do at the office.

1.    Don’t use your work time to update your social media. It is embarrassingly easy for your boss or coworkers to prove that you have been wasting company time doing so.
2.    Don’t spend inordinate amounts of time on personal phone calls. Productivity is key and while companies understand that their employees have personal lives also, it is important to keep it in perspective and limit personal calls to the bare minimum.
3.    Don’t spend company time job searching. This is bad form, even if you suspect you will lose your job. Use your spare time to get a jump on the job search.
4.    Don’t make enemies and burn bridges. If you suspect that you will be one of the next on the chopping block, remain civil and don’t lose your temper and say things you may regret. You will need a reference for future jobs, guaranteed.
5.    Don’t do anything that you wouldn’t want done to you. For example don’t gossip about others on the job, don’t try to take credit for things that you haven’t done and don’t make a habit of putting down and criticizing other people’s input.

In today’s tight economy, any number of factors can contribute to you being included in those at your workplace who are being let go. However, if you take care to be pleasant to work with, as productive as possible and a good deal for the wage your company pays you, your job will be secure and you won’t have to join the ranks of those searching for a new job during a recession.

Procrastination and Your Office

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

Procrastination is one of those nouns that are never good. Rarely does anyone say that they are glad they procrastinated about getting some task done or how happy they are that someone else delayed doing something that they were supposed to do.

Procrastination is simply delaying a task that can be done now. When you put off doing things, your work will pile up and you will find yourself under the gun for time. You may rationalize this by saying that you work best under pressure, however, in today’s work environment; the employees who enjoy the most job security are those who get the most done. If you procrastinate with your own tasks you are never available to take on extra work. This limits the opportunities you have to make your supervisors see how indispensable you are.

The other drawback with procrastination is that it creates a vicious cycle. You get overwhelmed with the work that has piled up and you don’t know where to start so you put off starting, thereby intensifying the problem. Such actions create a physical accumulation of documents, files and paperwork, making your workspace untidy and intimidating. If your work is mostly online, procrastination can lead to an inbox that is clogged and intimidating.

Conquer your procrastination habit by setting mini-goals for yourself and eliminating distractions. Tackle one area at a time and before you know it, you will be on your way to getting out from under the backlog of work piling up in your office.

3 Ways to Deal with Difficult Coworkers

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

There is one in every office. One individual always sticks out from the others as being difficult to work with, difficult to get along with or just simply unpleasant to be around. That person can ruin the workday for others and his or her bad attitude can rub off on those around. However, if you know how to deal with difficult coworkers, you will stand out for your strong people skills.

• Be upbeat, smile and say hi to your difficult coworker. Expect the other person to react the same way. If they do not, keep on smiling.
• Limit interactions with the person. Keep it professional and friendly when you must work together, but keep it short also. The fewer interactions you have, the less chance he or she will ruin your workday.
• Don’t talk to others at work about the situation, as it will make you appear petty.
• Remain professional, remember that you do not need to like everyone you work with and they don’t need to like you. You just need to be mature enough to work together when necessary regardless.
• If the difficult coworker is someone you work with regularly or closely, you may want to have a private conversation with him or her about the situation. This is especially important if you previously had a good relationship and now do not. There may be an underlying problem that you are not aware of.

Whether dealing with a coworker who is difficult with everyone or just difficult with you, it takes finesse and professionalism. Handling such a person in the right way gives you a chance to shine.

The Mentorship Puzzle

Thursday, October 9th, 2008

Ask a successful business person what made the difference in her career, and you’re likely to hear a “who” rather than a “what.” Mentors are a great resource when you’re starting a career, changing careers, or attempting to move up the career ladder. The challenge is fitting the pieces together to form a perfect puzzle.

Most people don’t have a mentor because they don’t know where to look for one. But potential mentors are all around you: sitting across from you at a fundraiser luncheon, one floor up on the executive level at the office, or a client that you tried (and perhaps failed) to woo. The ideal mentor isn’t even necessarily someone in your industry. If you’re starting a manufacturing business, you might find that a successful retailer is a wonderful mentor for you. Perhaps your personalities just click, or he’s an effective teacher. And even though you’re in different sectors, he can reveal marketing techniques that worked for him, what efforts weren’t worth the time and money, and give you access to his valuable contacts.

And if the word “mentor” seems too dorky to utter out loud, simply say to your potential mentor that you admire her accomplishments and wondered if she could be a resource for you as you learn the ropes, change jobs, climb the ladder, etc. Most people will be flattered. Remember that this shouldn’t be a one-way-street relationship, however. Take her to lunch, ask what you can do for her, or just jump in and help. You might learn the most simply by going to work with her for the day and helping her tackle projects. And don’t forget to pay it forward by mentoring someone else one day.

The Worst Thing You Can Say at the Office

Sunday, October 5th, 2008

Are you an apologizer? Sure, when you accidentally eat someone else’s brown bag lunch or literally run into a co-worker in the hallway, an apology is in order. But too many people apologize every time they open their mouths at the office. Perhaps these preambles sound familiar: “This may be a dumb idea, but…” “I’m not sure this will work, but…” “I’m sorry if someone else already thought of this…” Not only do these statements dull the impact of whatever comes after it, but the long-term effects can be enormous. Co-workers and higher-ups will dismiss you as ineffective, annoying, and, well, not very bright. This can affect your chances of promotion and limit your earning power. Do I have your attention now?

It’s natural to want to protect your ego in case your idea isn’t met with kudos, but even if it falls flat, you need to remember not to take a dismissal of your idea as a dismissal of you. It’s not personal; it’s business. Next time you have a great suggestion, tamp down your natural tendency to apologize in advance for wasting their time. Keep it simple. “What if we…?” “I’d like to try…” “Have you considered the benefits of…?” Simply injecting a dose of confidence into your presentation will immediately add more weight to your ideas. It may take a while to rebuild your credibility with your colleagues, but a steady diet of confident contributions will eventually pay off in a tangible way.

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