Displaying All Posts in the Office Life category

Is This an Invasion of Privacy?

You’re searching for something you need in the company database. You stumble across a folder that looks interesting and when you get in, you’re floored. This folder contains the salary information, performance reviews and management concerns corresponding to all of the people in the company. You know you shouldn’t have access to this folder, but apparently you do.

What do you do with this information?

Close out of the folder without reading any further. Inform your manager and your IT team that you have access, and suggest they fix that.
Make copies of all of the files, and read them at home when you have time.
Share the link with your work-buddies.
Share the link with everyone in the office – the ultimate in transparency.
Hold onto the information for a rainy day – you never know when you might need to play that card.

With security systems less than secure and passwords either known office-wide or easy enough to figure out, being presented with this situation is far from abnormal.

What would you do? Click Here to Read Article …

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Are Work Friends Counterproductive?

Susan Johnston 9th July Office Life Leave a Comment

A few years ago when I began working at a startup company, I made friends with several of my colleagues in the marketing and creative departments. We’d grab lunch together and occasionally meet up on the weekends or after work. I’d never been super-close with any of my coworkers before, so it was exciting to form such friendly bonds!

Having work buddies can make the workday pass more quickly and take the sting out of working late, but it can sometimes be a distraction. Plus, hanging out with coworkers after hours blurs the lines between your personal and professional life. In the case of my work posse, we got chastised a few times for taking longer lunches than we should (we were having so much fun chatting we lost track of time!).

Some career experts warn that being too chummy with friends at work also makes it less likely that you’ll be tapped for a promotion, because you may be seen as someone who’s serious about advancing their career (or you may subconsciously avoid any changes that would split up you and your work clique). Now that I’m working from home, I actually have the opposite of this problem: too few opportunities to interact with colleagues.

What’s your take on work friendships? Are work friends bad for your career? Click Here to Read Article …

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Problem Solvers vs. Opportunity Creators

Peter North 9th July General Leave a Comment

We all have different professions and titles, but ultimately we can be separated into two categories: problem solvers and opportunity creators. Those who work in areas like “operations” or “technical support” are quintessentially problem solvers. On the other hand, positions in “sales,” “sponsorship” or “marketing” are intrinsically opportunity creating efforts.

The two have a symbiotic relationship – neither can survive without the other. Either a plethora of problems or a lack of opportunities could sink a business.

The main difference between these two is one of visibility. A great team of problem solvers is rarely recognized, as a lack of problems can seem “normal” and even make those who solved all the problems seem unnecessary.

In contrast, opportunity creators are celebrated at every possible juncture. A successful sponsorship, contract or campaign is good news for everyone, so of course it should be celebrated. However, this can cause opportunity creators to appear more appreciated (or more valuable) than problems solvers.

They’re not.

Don’t get me wrong. As a purebred problem solver, I don’t want the spotlight. What am I going to say that warrants it? I mean, this isn’t exactly going to set the world on fire:

“Today, our systems are working as expected. We’ve enabled you all to do you work.”

Although new opportunities “sound better” than solved problems, neither one is more valuable than the other. Problem solvers and opportunity creators are joined at the hip; they’ll sink or swim together. Click Here to Read Article …

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Is It Lunch Theft?

Jason Finnerty 7th July Office Life Leave a Comment

You forgot to bring a lunch today, and you don’t have time to run out and get anything. Time constraints aside, you also forgot your wallet. You’ve got a long day ahead of you, with a client presentation in the afternoon. You need to get something in your system to stay on top of things. There are a few lunches in the fridge, and they’ve been unclaimed for a little while. What do you do?

Grab one of the unclaimed lunches. Check to make sure the green parts are supposed to be green, and chow down. They’re probably going to get thrown out later this week anyway – so where’s the harm?
Skip lunch – you can afford to miss a meal or two.
Find the owner of the best looking lunch, and beg them to share.
Send an email out to the team, asking everyone to give you part of their lunch.
“Accidentally” eat whichever one you want – even though the name is clearly on it.
Send the office intern out to get you a lunch, with your promise to pay them tomorrow.

Since I’ve experienced “lunch theft” on more than one occasion, I’m curious to know what you folks think.

What would you do? Click Here to Read Article …

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What’s Your Summertime Work Strategy?

Susan Johnston 6th July Office Life Leave a Comment

Traditionally, summertime means kicking back with a cool drink and escaping to the beach. But some people actually use this time to get ahead, taking advantage of a lighter workload to plan for the rest of the year or tackle long-neglected projects.

Both approaches have their merits.

Obviously, it’s nice to slow down and smell the cool ocean breezes so you can return to work relaxed and rejuvenated. That said, beaches and other vacation destinations are crowded this time of year, so it may make sense to save vacation time and forge ahead at work to show your boss how committed you are. As a self-employed writer, I’m planning to do a little of both this summer. I may be taking a few half days to catch up on reading – but otherwise it’ll be business as usual.

What do you plan to do this summer? Will you be observing half-day Fridays, as they do in many companies? Maybe taking a week off for some fun in the sun? Or will you keep things at the status quo? Click Here to Read Article …

Realism vs. Enthusiasm in the Workplace

Peter North 1st July Office Life Leave a Comment

Enthusiasm in the workplace is in a constant territorial battle with realism. New ideas emerge from your group, and they will either get welcomed by the energy of enthusiasm or cut down by the criticism of an overly-cautious environment. Every new idea, good or bad, has a risk and a cost involved. The ultimate challenge in any organization is to separate the viable ideas from the unworthy ones.

Where enthusiasm wins, you may find a daily brainstorm of overambitious ideas, all of which get encouraged, approved and pursued. The aftermath of enthusiasm’s victory is an ever-growing list of large, ambitious projects, and a staff stretched so thin that even the best ideas don’t get the attention they deserve. If you speak up and suggest that the group “picks their battles,” your realistic thinking might look like the product of a poor, negative attitude.

Where realism wins, the best ideas get cut down alongside the bad ones. People become obsessed with managing expectations, limiting the scope of projects, and running a “tight ship.” There’s no room in over-realism for risk; the status quo prevails. Practicality dictates that the ship “stays the course.”

Perhaps the best thing to do is fuel the fire, achieve “double-agent” status, and make sure there’s a constant, healthy battle between the two. You may not want either side to win.

Have you encountered over-enthusiasm? Have you been to a place that is all too cautious and realistic? Click Here to Read Article …

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10 Ways to Liven Up Your Lunch Hour

Sarah Nagel 30th June Office Life Leave a Comment

Never underestimate the power of a satisfying lunch hour. It can improve your overall job satisfaction and your work performance. Plus, making time for a little R&R will help you become a better co-worker. No one wants to work with Mr. McGrumpy. People want to connect with you on a personal level, and having fun excursions to talk about will make you more approachable and help you bond with your co-workers.

Shaking up your routine can also be an amazing source of energy and inspiration. If you are stuck in the middle of a big project, you may unknowingly adopt self-imposed limits and lose your creative edge. Taking a break can give you fresh eyes. Those lightning bolt ideas often strike when you’re busy doing something non-work related. So step away from your desk and take time for you. You’ll be grateful you did. Here are ten ideas to get you started. Click Here to Read Article …

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