You're tan and relaxed, and your mind is a million miles from work. The problem is, you ARE at work. You've just returned from an amazing vacation where you did everything except think about the office.Changing mindsets is a difficult task. This is why it is essential to give yourself every possible opportunity to ease back gracefully. Here are a few tips how...BE ORGANIZED BEFORE YOU LEAVESet your 'out of office' reminders well in advance. Forgetting to take this step could result in a larger number of e-mail/calls to respond to when you return.Empty out your inbox by archiving all older messages. This will help you feel less overwhelmed when the vacation ends and keep your mailbox from exceeding the size limit, since most companies have a low threshold.Give your desk and general office space a quick clean. There's nothing like returning to a lemony-fresh workspace.ARRIVE EARLY UPON RETURNEfficient workers know that it's easier to get things done … [Read more...] about Returning From Vacation Sucks. 6 Ways to Ease the Pain.
VHS Tape Office Prank
Finally...a use for all of those old VHS tapes. … [Read more...] about VHS Tape Office Prank
Old-Timers' Day Comes to Work
Watching the Old-Timers' Day ceremonies at Yankee Stadium this past weekend, I was filled with the usual barrage of mixed emotions. Ranging from proud glee to a distinct fear of aging, the rollercoaster ride of an event not only pays tribute to the players of yesterday, but helps fans understand how an empire was built.While the corporate environment does not usually have the star power or 'excitement' of professional sports, there might be something to be said for understanding how your company got where it is today.So I pose the question:Is it time for your company to hold an old-timers' day?(Though I'm sure HR will make us come up with a more politically correct name. Perhaps 'Come Back to Work Day' or 'Unretirement Day.' )For an exercise like this to be successful, current employees would have to show interest - and patience.Who sat in your chair before you? How did they get things done before the computer age?Even an alumni day would be interesting; at the very least, you could … [Read more...] about Old-Timers' Day Comes to Work
The Modern Man Revealed; What a Wuss
It is official. The days of the testosterone fueled, beer guzzling, sexually promiscuous, cold-as-ice-male is now over. Did you know that the “modern male” sometimes even sheds a tear or two? What wimps we have turned into! I have the good mind to exterminate the whole male race (well everyone except me of course, I’ll be kept as a sex slave by the fairer half). Anyway, the results of one of the biggest online surveys run by Askmen.com have recently been released, with some surprising and humorous findings. The Great Male Survey 2008 is broken down into four categories: lifestyle, sexuality, dating, and money & power. Below is a brief summary, but afterwards, you should click on the link at the end of the page to have a look for yourselves. Lifestyle: The majority of “modern men” admit that they are more concerned about how kempt they look, and admit to using some sort of moisturizer to tackle those nasty skin blemishes and problematic dry areas. They … [Read more...] about The Modern Man Revealed; What a Wuss
Don't Let the Glassdoor Hit You On the Way In
Starting a new job is always a little overwhelming. You don't know anyone, you are unsure of the lingo used and there's always stuff going on around you that you don't quite understand. You don't know if your boss is a complete jerk and you're always watching what you say, trying to avoid sounding like an idiot. Wouldn't it be nice to have some more information about your working environment before beginning the job to help with the transition? A new site called Glassdoor.com may be able to help. More than that, the site will be able to help you decide what companies to apply to in the first place. The site claims to have the opinion of over 40,000 employees from over 11,000 companies around the world (although mostly in the United States). Employees anonymously write reviews of their company focusing on important qualities such as compensation, work/life balance, CEO rating, and leadership. The site is free, but in order to fully access all the reviews, you yourself have … [Read more...] about Don't Let the Glassdoor Hit You On the Way In
Why Is Boring Career Advice So Popular?
The article "How to dress for success at work" is the second most popular item on CNN.com right now. Are you kidding me?Here are some nuggets • Stock your closet -- Start with the versatile basics, such as a pair of black pants, a dark pant suit, some button-down collared shirts and a classic pair of dark shoes. Once you have the staples, you can continue to build your wardrobe to give you plenty of professional options.• Keep it neat and clean -- Make sure your pants, shirts and other clothes are ironed, stain-free and in good condition. When your clothes look sloppy, so do you.• Steer clear of bar attire -- Don't mistake the office for your local watering hole. Leave the slinky shirts, tight pants and cut off t-shirts at home.• Look the part -- Have a client presentation or a meeting with the CEO? Dress for the part, making sure you choose appropriate articles of clothing for your role.Doesn't anyone ever get tired of the same crap recycled over and over again? While … [Read more...] about Why Is Boring Career Advice So Popular?
Quick Ways to Be Green at Work
Some of us hopped on the green train back with Al Gore, some of us bought a ticket in the early 2000’s, and the majority of us begged to get on once gas prices skyrocketed. Regardless of when you realized that we all have an impact on the environment, it can prove difficult to translate your lifestyle changes to work. Certain changes are individualistic, while other may require approval by the company to transform. Here are some quickie reminders:1. RECYCLE. This can be done on both an individual and company level. As an individual, you can recycle the cans or plastic bottles of pop you purchase from the vending machine (or steal from the fridge; if you do steal, see the blog entry “Mind Your P’s and Q’s At Work"). At a company level, encourage your employer to put out recycle bins for the employees, bins for paper, and encourage them to recycle computers as well.2. UNPLUG THE CHARGER. Whether at home or work, if you use a cell phone charger, be sure … [Read more...] about Quick Ways to Be Green at Work
5 Ways Your Boss Stops Time (and you in your tracks)
Time might heal all wounds, but it certainly doesn't solve all business problems. In the working world, most of us are at the mercy of the clock: punching in, lunch hours, time cards and so on. Early in our careers we are trained to be as efficient as possible, cramming our hours to be multi-tasked to the max. One lesson seldom taught in the power of inefficiency. I've already talked about how the 'experts' waste time at work. Today we're going to look at clock stoppers. These are bosses who know how to get your projects stuck in quicksand, and in the process, stop you in your tracks - or at least slow you down to a tortoise's crawl.Here's how they do it...DROWNING IN PAPERWORK. Paper has power. It can make things move forward or grind them to a halt. Usually, the more of it there is, the longer the delay. Any boss worth his/her salt knows the best way to get an employee off their back is to ask them to produce more paper. It could be a memo that … [Read more...] about 5 Ways Your Boss Stops Time (and you in your tracks)
How to Treat the New Person at Work
Ever have a new person start at your office who within a week is acting as if they own the place? Don't blame the person, blame the organization (or your co-workers).Sure we want to make the rookie comfortable. Gone are the days of office hazing. (You know, stapling shrimp under a person's chair). The same way we train a dog, it's important to establish ground rules with the newbie early on, and enforce them consistently.This might sound cruel, but it's especially important for people who work closely with the new hire. The logic is simple - assuming you aspire to grow within the organization, you will need the respect of your peers. Plus, you'll make the transition easier when you finally get that deserved bump. Redefining roles is a cumbersome workplace challenge. Why make things harder on yourself? Including the rookie in every conversation and bringing them up to speed on every in-joke is a mistake.We leave breadcrumbs in all relationships, yet … [Read more...] about How to Treat the New Person at Work
Busted for Smoking in Work Bathroom
Thinking of lighting up a smoke in the office bathroom? Think again! … [Read more...] about Busted for Smoking in Work Bathroom