Last week I noticed a rather plump-looking lady rimming a glass with her big sausage finger, whilst intermittently and seductively glancing at me. She was also twirling her long blonde hair with the index finger of her other hand. So I did what any extremely intoxicated man would do. I brought that chunky honey home and fell asleep on her back moments before intercourse. This experience opened my eyes to a whole new hidden underlying world. It conjured up the notion in me that people can be read and understood simply by their body language. So, after some quick research and a lot of unscientific induction, I have arrived at this...4 ways to utilize body language in the work place. Mirroring In body language terms, the word mirroring basically means adopting the identical gestures and postures of the person with whom you are speaking. This copying is a means by which one person “tells” the other that he is in agreement with his ideas and attitudes. This knowledge … [Read more...] about Common Office Body Language
Archives for April 2008
Office Chair Racing Goes Outdoors
What happens when you head downhill and race over a ramp in your office chair? Seventy participants christened the inaugural German Office Chair Racing Championship. We're already working on the Jobacle Chair Prix to bring this magical event to the U.S. So grease those wheels and stay tuned! … [Read more...] about Office Chair Racing Goes Outdoors
The Secret to Polishing Shoes, Quickly
As a kid, I vividly recall dad sitting on the side of the bed, methodically laying out a series of tools. Included were a cloth, a wire brush, a small tin and a bottle of liquid. What the heck was all that stuff?Bring some old-school good business sense back to the work game, without the mess and the all of the tools. Totally portable and entirely fool-proof, Shine to Go shoe polisher is the latest tool you need to add to your arsenal for career success.I'm one of those unlucky blokes, who despite my limited interaction with the outside world, must be strangled daily by a necktie. That means nothing less than spit-shined shoes will do. But it never works out that way. My shirts are nice and pressed. My tie is knotted to perfection. And my favorite Cole Haan shoes look like I walked through the forest to get to work.But a clean, well-groomed, tailored look undoubtedly commands respect. According to FHM Magazine, 89% of men in the U.S. and … [Read more...] about The Secret to Polishing Shoes, Quickly
Government Workers Love Office Bingo
Our nation's desk-bound civil servants have too much time on their hands. While casually checking the Jobacle traffic logs from the past few months I noticed an alarming trend:Government workers love to play Office Bingo. Hundreds of them!For some reason, the little game we devised last year, has clearly resonated with folks logging on from a .gov computer.If you're bored at work, we kindly ask you to play along too!DOWNLOAD BINGO CARDAn ApologyWith the warmer weather cloaking NY, I'm having a little trouble keeping my blog/podcast focus. It could be my anti-climactic promotion at my "real" job, or my never-ending house hunt. Or, perhaps, just the distraction of girls in their summer clothes. Who knows. We are however working on some great future content. From the secret of the perfect shoe shine to a look at the "coolest" jobs on the planet, please subscribe now so you don't miss a beat. … [Read more...] about Government Workers Love Office Bingo
4 Work Lessons From the Pope
“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” - Pope John XXIII (1881-1963) Pope Benedict XVI just wrapped up a six day trip to the United States. His trip most recently included a rally with 60,000 people at Yankee stadium, as well as a visit to Ground Zero. Everyone has their opinion on the Pope, or the Catholic Church for that matter, but discussing those controversies is for other blogs. I'm wondering; what can we learn about work from the Pope?True, the Pope has a role that is incredibly unique. It is probably difficult for you to imagine yourself in his position. Consider this: the Pope is the head of an organization with over 1 billion members. He leads a staff of over 400,000 priests and 4,800 bishops. There must be something we can learn from him about work. Indeed, I … [Read more...] about 4 Work Lessons From the Pope
The Common Thread Amongst Millionaires
Ever wonder how those Fortune 500 CEOs do it? How they make so much money, and how they keep themselves so God-damned motivated all of the time? Well, recently I came across a book entitled “How to Develop the Millionaire Mentality,” so of course I took a look, hoping to gain an insight into these hyperactive-neurotic specimens. The book says that all you have to do is focus your attention in the right direction, on the right idea and the success will follow. I was interested by it and decided to look further into the idea that there may actually be a “successful mentality.” Here is what I found in the numerous biographies and occupational psychology research I've read. Working Hard Ever since the beginning of time we homosapiens have been searching for the quick-fix solution, and who can blame us? If I had the opportunity to get rich quick, I would most certainly take it, and never look back. However, this attitude is in complete opposition to that of … [Read more...] about The Common Thread Amongst Millionaires
The Hardest Jobs to Fill
Manpower 2008 annual survey on the hardest jobs for companies to fill. Includes ranking of top 10 and commentary on why issues persist.While job categories have shifted on the list, it is clear all companies must have a plan for transitioning from baby boomers to younger generationsEngineers, machinists and skilled trade workers are among the nation's most challenging positions to fill, according to survey findings released by Manpower Inc.The 10 Hardest Jobs to Fill, as reported by U.S. employers for 2008, are:1. Engineers2. Machinists/Machine Operators (10)*3. Skilled Trades4. Technicians (4)5. Sales Representatives (1)6. Accounting & Finance Staff (8)7. Mechanics (3)8. Laborers (9)9. IT Staff10. Production … [Read more...] about The Hardest Jobs to Fill
Dilbert Jumps Off the Page; Goes Web 2.0
Dilbert creator Scott Adams is the man. First, he creates a brilliant comic strip about the world of work. And now, proving he has the balls to give the power to the people, he's allowing the reading public to create their own punch-lines. In the near future, you will be able to re-write entire Dilbert strips either as a group or by yourself. Aside from the cartoon mashups, other Web 2.0 features include: - animated Dilbert strips every weekday (on iTunes) - widgets - strip rankings - comments - sharable favorite lists - RSS feeds Considering Adams already keeps a verbose blog and makes his private e-mails public, this foray into the social media/networking realm is not surprising. When mashing up Dilbert comic strips, you will have three choices: Punch line: fans can rewrite the final frame of a daily strip. Adams creates the setup, the audience provides the punch lines. My Dilbert (coming in May): fans will be able to rewrite the entire strip. Group Mash (coming in May): fans will … [Read more...] about Dilbert Jumps Off the Page; Goes Web 2.0
My Anticlimactic Promotion = Identify & Cope
After two years in the same position, I was promoted last week. Hold the applause. While I'm happy at the level of faith my company has showed in me, I might be suffering from something I'm coining as postpartum promotion.I finally got what I wanted; higher pay, a larger staff, greater visibility, etc. However, the adrenaline rush I thought I'd experience was simply not there. Sure, it felt good for the remainder of that afternoon, but the positive feeling vanished - quickly.Am I an ungrateful and negative bastard? I tend to think not. After a little self-reflection in the shower this morning (sorry for the visual), here are a few reasons why I think I'm not that psyched.- From the start I've felt overworked and underpaid, so a promotion barely levels the playing field.- The reality is that the amount of work I have is not proportionate with the pay. Not close.- No tasks were taken away, but plenty were added. - A (hypothetical) 10% increase, … [Read more...] about My Anticlimactic Promotion = Identify & Cope
Office Gossip: As Certain As Death and Taxes
Just as Benjamin Franklin convinced us that nothing in the world was certain but death and taxes, nothing in the office is as certain as boredom and consequently, gossip. Gossip is an inevitable and unavoidable pettiness in the workplace. No matter your stance on it, it will always prevail and it will always be there. Just as we manage daily our grasp on death and taxes, we must manage and deal with office gossip. Here are some tips on coping: 1. NEVER be the person spreading the gossip. Unless you want the nickname Chatty Cathy, and then by all means, go for it. 2. When it eventually comes your way, remember that office gossip is similar to the game telephone you played as a kid. It certainly isn’t the same information it was when it started.3. When the information comes your way, play ambivalent. I don’t care if you just found out that your boss is sleeping with the CEO of your company and it finally explains how the idiot has kept … [Read more...] about Office Gossip: As Certain As Death and Taxes