My Campus Chronicles
Our college blog dedicated to helping students prepare for life outside of college.
May 2008 archive
We've all had 'em...the coworker who is angry with the world, never satisfied and does their best to be a pain in everyone's neck.
Some articles refer to these "team members" as toxic. I like to refer to them as bottlenecks. The reason? Usually, productivity is delayed or stopped all together because their attitude causes an inability to work as a team member or contribute to projects in a useful manner. Not to mention their actions can contribute to depleting morale.
So what do you to counter these co-workers?
Start by realizing that some people are just unhappy and will do anything to bring others down with them. It's hard to do, but don't let their poor disposition and attitude bog you down with them.
There is also the possibility of avoiding contact all together, but this could prove difficult if you are placed on the same team as the offending co-worker. If this is the case, remember to tread lightly and don't antagonize the situation.
If all else fails, and this colleague continues to intrude on your work environment and morale, then consider speaking with a supervisor or HR. It's hard when you feel like you are reporting or "tattling" on a co-worker, but more than likely this person is affecting others too.
In the end, stay positive and try "killing them with kindness".
Have you ever been to Disney World and taken a tour of the animation studios? If so, you'll notice that the animators have decorated this workspaces in the theme of the film that they are working on. For example, I was there when they were working on Lilo and Stitch, which took place in Hawaii.
The cubes were all decorated with hula girls, plastic coconut shells and tropical flower leis to inspire their creativity. The result: a multi-million dollar grossing film that includes a beloved character, stuffed animals, lunch boxes, Disney rides, well, you get the picture.
Now think about your work environment. It's difficult to always come up with the next bright idea when you spent half or most of your time in an office with four white walls, or worse, a cubicle in the middle of the office.
I recently read a column about how creativity also spurs productivity. As you can see with the Disney example, it can't hurt to have inspiration. So go ahead, add pictures, flowers, quotes or other elements that motivate you. Allow your personality to show through too. You could encourage your co-workers to do the same, and before you know it, your creative juices will begin to flow.
Gas prices are taking their toll on workers, not to mention the escalating price of food. If you are trying to cut back on the expense of fuel, talk to your boss about working from home. Not all companies have this perk, and some companies limit the type of positions that have the ability to telecommute. But, if the option is there it is worth the savings to check it out.
If telecommuting is not the answer, then ask your supervisor if it's possible to work a compressed schedule to take the edge off of having to drive to work every day of the week. It might amount to only one day a week, but it's still a slight cost savings.
One other idea is to discuss with your manager the possibility of incorporating a public transportation pass or allowance into your yearly raise to supplement your gas expenses.
Last but not least, don't forget the value of carpooling. Sharing a ride with others also cuts back on the frequency of filling up, and helps the environment.
"Internships provide an invaluable way to gain real-world experience and apply the skills you've learned in the classroom to a work environment. As important, internships can kick-start your climb up the career ladder. A recent survey by Experience, Inc. found that 54% of employers view their internship program as a pipeline for new hires. Do you have an internship success story? Tell us about it.
Q: Dear Seymour, I recently became a manager for the first time, and now find myself facing my first big presentation! Any advice on how to prepare?
- Submitted by Lyla Sulian, Oakbrook, IL 
A: Dear Lyla,
For some, preparing for a presentation is a process that is easy and painless, while for others, it's just painful torture. Most of us fall somewhere in between. It's inevitable that one day you would have to make a presentation at work. There are certain tools, tips and techniques you can use to deliver a memorable and effective presentation - the key is learning how to use them to your maximum advantage. Here are a few tips to ensure you deliver a stellar first presentation:
- Effective visuals. Whatever your visuals are - posters, charts, PowerPoint, slides - keep them simple and don't put too many words on them. The audience is there to listen to you present, not to read your visuals.
- Good eye contact. Look at your audience. Don't single out one person, but instead try to make eye contact with numerous people. This allows you to engage the audience.
- Delivery. Pace yourself - try not to speed up when you speak. Keep your points as short and simple as possible. Speak to the audience, not at them and not at your visual aids. Speak clearly and loudly enough for all to hear. Use inflection, not a monotone voice. Do not use "uhms or ahs." Show some gestures when speaking. People are more engaged with an animated speaker.
- Practice, practice, practice. After you've gotten your written materials and visuals ready, practice in front of a willing audience (friends, family), a mirror, or video yourself. However, don't over prepare. If you rehearse your presentation too much, it will sound like it. You want to sound natural, not as if it's memorized.
- Just breathe. The simple act of breathing properly before you start and during your presentation can give you a better sense of clarity and focus. Get a good night's rest, drink enough water, and stretching beforehand may help ensure you're feeling your best when you present.
Allow for extra time at the end of your presentation for questions and discussion. Prepare in advance answers to some possible questions. Most importantly, don't be too hard on yourself if you didn't meet every expectation. If you believe you gave it your best shot, pat yourself on the back. Look for ways you can improve for the next time you make a presentation. With each one you do, you will improve and the easier presentations will become.
Good luck!
Seymour
Companies have been battling the Internet for worker productivity for years. But now, there's a new distraction that's taking workers' attention away from their job during the workday. MySpace, Facebook, Twitter...all are great tools for social networking and keeping in touch, but they can be a distraction.
A recent article highlights how some companies are combating the social networking beast by employing filtering software to block social networking sites.
The key to remember is that too much personal time spent on social networking can be a distraction and cuts into company time unless you are in the sales, marketing or recruiting functions, which finds social networking sites useful tools.
Whether it's social networking or online shopping, if it's not job related, you shouldn't be spending time, outside of your lunch break, on the Internet with personal business. It's unprofessional, and your managers and co-workers probably wouldn't appreciate it.
Self-esteem and confidence are very important for your career. For some workers, this can be a detriment because too much self confidence can lead to arrogance, and arrogance can lead to conflict with co-workers and managers or even poor judgment.
However, a healthy amount of confidence helps workers succeed. Confident employees are not afraid to express their ideas, or engage in debate about strategy. Most company leaders are in their positions because they had the self-esteem and confidence throughout their career to make the critical decisions that led to advancement.
Yet, some workers have a difficult time having the self-assurance that they can make the decisions and take the chances required to propel them to the next level.
One column offers ideas about how managers can help boost workers' confidence, but what can workers do themselves?
For starters, make a list of your accomplishments and post them in your office or cubicle. This will remind you daily about your strengths and successes at the office.
When a manager or co-worker compliments your work or achievements, take it to heart. You know you work hard, and when someone recognizes it, enjoy it!
Furthermore, if you make a mistake or are reprimanded, keep in mind that no one is perfect, especially at work. So don't look at this situation as a way to crush your ego. Instead, take it as a learning experience that will help you to not make the same mistake twice.
Lastly, the best way to get a compliment and have your work recognized is to give a compliment and recognize others.
I am interested in hearing from our readers. What do you do to boost your confidence at work?
Somewhere deep within my subconscious mind, I think that I truly believed that my child would miraculously arrive into this world with little thought (or effort) on my part. Throughout my seemingly endless pregnancy, I dreamt of a beautiful doll-like "mini-me" that never cried or pooped. She wore gorgeous baby couture and never had the predisposition to drool like a bulldog. More importantly, she'd come complete with a "how-to" manual firmly affixed to her rear-end. No one dared to shatter my fantasy so you can imagine my surprise... and utter horror!
Flash forward: post-pregnancy... Suddenly, I was working two full time jobs! My daily struggle of trying to maintain my job and my household responsibilities felt overwhelming and seemingly impossible. It was as if I had gone from working in the mail room to becoming the CEO of a global company overnight. Worse yet, no one had bothered to inform me how I to run the company! Short of auctioning my child on eBay; I was fresh out of quick-fix solutions. It was time to call for outside help. Knowing that I wasn't the first or the last woman to be faced with the age-old dilemma, the question remained... How do you do it all? More importantly, how do you do it all successfully?
I started by joining a local working mom support group. I know what you're thinking... because I thought the same thing! However, I quickly realized that there was a reason that these women gathered together each week and it wasn't to make me feel like a bad mother. Each woman had a need or a desire to improve herself and her work/life balance. The camaraderie I found became my lifeline, granting me the permission to explore who I wanted to be in the various roles of my life. In addition to the self-exploration, I also found an abundance of helpful information like how to find the right preschool to the best approach for working a flex-schedule. I felt that I had tapped into a secret society and the information that I gathered was powerful.
My daughter turns four this year and I marvel at the learning curve that we have both endured through her years. Truthfully, there are times that I forget to ask her to brush her teeth; days that the laundry piles up and sometimes I even miss a work deadline. Yet through it all I have learned that success is only about getting what you want... happiness is found by wanting what you get.
To find an existing mommy support group, check your local bulletin boards and newspapers or contact national organizations, which may have a local chapter in your area. Your local librarian, pediatrician, or social services office may know about an existing group of moms with children in similar age ranges. There are also great online support groups that provide a broad range of communication and are accessible on your time schedule.
Mothers & More is a non-profit membership organization provides a nationwide network of local chapters for mothers who are (by choice or circumstance) altering their participation in the paid workplace over the course of their active parenting years.
Workitmom.com is another online community where working moms can share their experiences, advice, and support can make that daily juggle a bit more manageable.
Mom Junction allows members to immediately access the groups of moms in your local town or find moms outside of your area, but who are still within reach.
