Work Culture

December 9, 2014 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

ODE TO CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND HOLIDAY OFFICE PARTIES

The dreaded much anticipated holiday season at work

Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer – O Holy Night!!!!

Happy Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Diwali, Merry Christmas

The holidays are a minefield of emotions, stresses, and demands on the budget and time of everyone this time of year. Family requirements are always a concern but even more challenging are the expectations in the workplace during the holiday season. Family responsibilities might be tricky and taxing but expectations at the office have higher stakes.

Some things to consider regarding office holiday party etiquette:

BEFORE YOU ATTEND

Commit to attend the party if at all possible. Some planning committee worked hard to provide a way for everyone to celebrate as a group. Yes, I know it is sometimes hard to relax with people you may not even enjoy being around – get over it. You might find these people to be entirely different in a more relaxed atmosphere. Hey, at least try. Remember all that rhetoric about team building??

Prepare mentally for some small talk

Remember most people’s favorite subject is themselves. Ask questions about where they went to school and grew up. “Do you follow the Saints?” “Are you an LSU/SU fan?” “What keeps you busy when you aren’t at work?” Another topic which always gets someone talking is family. “Do you have children?” Ages? Schools? Activities? Any pictures? Off limit topics (do I really need to remind you?) – religion, politics, office politics and policies, and controversial topics such as legalization of marijuana or immigration issues.

Get a dress code idea

If you receive an invitation without a mention of formality or informality, ask around. Especially if you are new to the company, check with employees who have gone to previous parties. You don’t want to show up in a Christmas sweater with reindeer and bells and others are in a sleek suit or a cocktail dress. Consider a compromise between sexy and attractive and professional and serious.

Gift Giving

It is always welcome information when the office sets a gift giving policy. Having a Secret Santa or drawing names for a single non gender specific gift with a suggested spending limit is a great idea. Just remember personal items are not a good idea. Gift certificates are an excellent option. If you feel compelled to buy individual gifts, do not present them to the person(s) at the office party. Find a time/place before or after work to give such gifts, even if they are small tokens of friendship or appreciation.

Gifts to the boss are tricky and usually not expected. Be mindful of the workplace’s holiday culture and follow customary gifting which may be a single gift to which all have contributed or absolutely not giving boss gifts. Consider being creative and socially responsible in your gift giving. Perhaps you have a favorite charity that you would like to make a donation to in someone’s name, or think about interests and causes the recipient of the gift may embrace and donate in that area in their name. Shopwithmeaning.org lists organizations which fund causes from clean water, fair trade, fighting poverty, hunger relief and education in third world countries. The holiday season is a time when MANY agencies solicit – they are easy to find.

BEHAVING AT THE OFFICE PARTY

Mingle

It might be awkward but make an effort to acknowledge all your coworkers and especially your superiors. The setting may seem really informal but defer to supervisors and bosses. Don’t use this as an opportunity to speak your mind, question or comment on work policies.

Avoid any romantic or sexual advances

Discretion is important. This is not the time or place to declare your romantic intentions to a coworker. You certainly don’t want to be the object of workplace gossip after the party. If you are the object of unwanted attention, let the person down gently – especially if you find yourself being “hit on by the boss.” Remember innocent attention can turn inappropriate and lead to claims of sexual harassment. Don’t touch people in ways that can be misconstrued or say things that can be considered sexually provocative or demeaning.

That drinking thing

First, remember that it is not a requirement to have any alcoholic beverage. Many people do not drink because of religious convictions, health issues, or perhaps because they are recovering alcoholics. No one should ask why you aren’t drinking alcohol and unless he is a dullard will not. It is perfectly acceptable to have a soft drink, water or coffee without any explanation offered. That being said, many people use a holiday party as an opportunity to imbibe at the company’s expense. Most post party gossip concerning improper behavior (think dancing with the lamp shade on your head, giving TMI -too much information about your personal life, or telling people exactly how you feel about fellow employees or company policies) is fueled by too much alcohol.

Problems arise that can cause others to think poorly of you or in extreme cases cause dismissal from a job. The more drinks, the more likely a person is to do something he/she will regret. I’m just guessing here, but if you are a drinker who has sometimes overdone it, think back to things that you did or said that might have caused you embarrassment upon cold, sober reflection.

So consider if you are drinking to eat food before drinking. You might order rum and coke or gin and tonic for a first drink and then switch to plain coke or tonic. No one will notice. If it is a long evening pace yourself and drink water and eat between alcoholic beverages. If you feel like you might be overdoing it, duck out early instead of getting drunk in front of the boss. In the holiday spirit, consider helping a coworker that might need to be encouraged to leave the party – and drive him/her or call a cab. On final thought – Don’t let these suggestion be a concern that overrides your decision to attend, as Holiday Office Parties can be great relationship builders with co-workers, clients or prospects.

SOOOOOOO – HAPPY HOLIDAYS, KWANZAH, HANUKKAH, RAMADAN, DIWALI –MERRY CHRISTMAS AND REMEMBER AN OFFICE PARTY IS STILL THE OFFICE AS FAR AS GOOD SENSE AND PROPER ETIQUETTE ARE CONCERNED. ENJOY AND BE SMART.

Related Posts:

Gift giving at the office

March 25, 2014 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

15 TIPS TO GAINING LIKABILITY IN THE WORKPLACE

Likeability

Are you – friendly – agreeable – amiable – appealing – genial –good natured – sociable affable – pleasing???

Who cares? Bosses supervisors and fellow workers do.

Here’s a thought to ponder: What valuable skill will help you secure that long sought after position and once you get it thrive in the environment and move up in the corporation? You and the interviewer know it is important, dare I say critical, yet neither of you can mention it. There is no spot on the resume to list it and the interviewer cannot ask you about it directly.

ARE YOU LIKEABLE? You need to be to get the job and to perform well once you do get it. This is definitely one of those soft skills the candidate needs to exhibit. About the closest a person can come to letting HR know that he/she is likable is to use terms like “team player” – not the same thing exactly. Sometimes people perform okay as a member of a team, yet they are not particularly likeable.

According to Pam Holloway, “likeability is not a gift; it can be acquired. People that are liked by others are more successful in business and life, get promoted and most importantly, THEY GET HIRED!!”

People who are described as likeable have positive mental attitudes, are non-judgmental and open refraining from criticizing; are secure and “comfortable in their own skin,” are vulnerable – admitting mistakes, and are able to get outside of themselves – they can empathize with others. Some self-reflection can help us assess if we have these qualities.

RECOMMENDATION * – An excellent job preparation guide is Bob Firestone’s, “The Ultimate Guide to Job Interview Answers.” I encourage you to get a copy of this book and use it for interview preparation. Since I know that it might be difficult for you to carve out the time to read and study this book, allow me in the next few blogs to share some of the main ideas found there.

Beginning at the beginning – The Interview  The candidate’s number 1 goal is to get hired. The interview is really about the employer’s needs, not yours. Managers hire people in order to make their own job easier. The candidate’s job is to make the manager need his/her skills, experience, attitude and education. While you are discussing your hard skills and abilities, the interviewer is trying to evaluate your likeability factor, even subconsciously. This is especially a factor in the first interview in which the social likability cues you exhibit are being evaluated. In simple terms, they’re trying to get a “feel” for you – can they tolerate working with you? Talk about first impressions, this is when it happens, some people think in the first thirty seconds of the interview. Your personality and professionalism are often assessed in a quick first impression. Practice your entrance, your smile (be sure to do so), your handshake, your demeanor. It’s not a bad idea to record yourself – first watching your entry without the sound. Develop a strategy – even if you might have to extend yourself beyond your comfort zone. This isn’t faking it; it’s about being emotionally intelligent in order to give others a positive experience on an emotional level.

Some tips to consider:

Greet the interviewer like an old friend and if you are a person who has trouble with small talk, then plan to say something. “For example, compliment the ‘energy’ in the office.”
Go out of your way to be pleasant.
Smile and maintain eye contact.
Compliment the organization by doing your “homework” and deciding three things you like about the company – work this in early on.
Be enthusiastic and the job and the organization. Use words like “wonderful,” “phenomenal,” “remarkable,” “so pleased,” “very enthusiastic.”
Give a genuine compliment to the interviewer.
Show empathy to the interviewer’s needs as an employee. What are his goals? Ask about what he/she is trying to accomplish.
Make a calculated goal to connect with the interviewer on something you know about him. Research the person so you can bring up something when the timing is right – just don’t make it something about politics or religion. At an appropriate point, share some non-job related things about yourself that he can identify with such as sports, hobbies, a book or industry trends.
Communicate optimism – show that you look on the bright side, that you are not a complainer.
Show that you are compassionate and care about people’s feelings. Use words like serving, giving, helping.
Appear relaxed but energetic – easy to talk to.
Reveal a weakness early on as a way to show honesty and openness.
Show some humor – they may even ask what makes you laugh.
Speak confidently about your accomplishments but show modesty.
Finish the interview with a strong accomplishment statement.

Finally, fear not. No one expects you to be someone you are not. These are just strategies to explore and work into the interview if and when appropriate. BE GENUINE. BE YOURSELF, BUT BE YOUR BEST OPTIMISITIC,

COMPASSIONATE, ENTHUSAISTIC, AMIABLE, GOOD NATURED, LIKABLE SELF!!

*Disclaimer: The Ultimate Guide to Job Interviews information is provided for your reference. The link provided is an affiliate link, should you decide to purchase via this link, our vendor smsbsocial.com may be eligible to earn a commission.

February 10, 2014 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

TOP 3 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE COMPLAINING AT WORK

Think before COMPLAINING – Work is a No Whine Zone!

“Never tell your problems to anyone—20% don’t care and the other 80% are glad you have them. Lou Holtz

Complaining on the job can be a slippery slope – addictive and resulting in one being perceived as negative, especially if there is never a presentation of the problem AND possible solutions. There is a fine line between expressing opinions, offering suggestions and ideas and simply running your mouth. You don’t even need to be in earshot of authority; your coworkers will gladly quote you to your manager. If you are talking at work about something work related which you do not approve of, be sure that word will get around, probably with additional comments you never made and/or a slant you did not intend. Remember the childhood game of Gossip? One person whispers something to another and it is repeated down the line until the last recipient of the message repeats what he/she thinks the original message was. This last statement which makes it through the chain of people is guaranteed to be different from the original. THE OFFICE IS NO PLACE TO PLAY GOSSIP. If you complain assume any and all coworkers and managers hear at least some version of your complaint.

That being said, if you must express your displeasure at work, consider the following before you engage your mouth:

1. Your length of time on the job

The shorter your tenure on the job, the less favorable your complaint will be taken. You need to earn the right to express your opinion.

2. Your position in the company

If you have no authority or position in the company, where do you come off in complaining about policy?

3. Your performance record

Those with a stellar performance record can offer their opinions at will, while those with a poor performance record better put up first or shut up for now.

Before you express a complaint, make certain that you are prepared to offer a possible solution. This makes you a part of the effort to improve, i.e. a team player.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU BECOME A SOUNDING BOARD FOR MR/MS NEGATIVITY

Let’s suppose for a minute that you are one of those people who has written on his forehead, “Tell me your troubles, I care.” If you are such a person, you may find yourself the recipient of complaints from a negative coworker. Usually the complainer does not want advice, he/she just wants to vent, and you look like someone who will listen. How does one handle this situation, especially if it becomes constant and aggravating? You can try several strategies. Listen, but set limits and do not hesitate to tell your negative colleague that you would prefer more positive subjects. You do not want to be a negative magnet and appear guilty of complaining by association. It is okay to let someone know that you care about his happiness but disagree with his assessment of the situation. Try actively listening to the complaint, question and ask for clarification. If you feel qualified to provide advice and ideas, feel free to do so but keep in mind that long term attempts to “help” your coworker can sap your energy and positivity. Recommend professional help through HR, seminars and/or helpful books. For someone who exudes negativity and presents complaining as a chronic condition, you can always request to gracefully bow out and refuse to discuss “how the company is going down the tubes, they are being treated unfairly, customers are worthless – ad infinitum.

If all else fails and he/she won’t leave you alone and you feel that your work is being impacted, talk to HR staff.

Whether you are the complainer or the listener/sounding board, consider that negativity has no place in a vibrant, progressive company. NEGATIVITY IS A CHOICE YOU MAKE. ASK YOURSELF DO I NEED A NEW JOB, A NEW COMPANY, A NEW CAREER, NEW OUTLOOK, OR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING. DECIDE FOR YOURSELF BEFORE YOUR MANAGER MAKES THE DECISION FOR YOU.

“I personally believe language developed because of our deep inner need to complain.” Jan Wagner, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe

December 9, 2013 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

GIFT GIVING AT THE OFFICE

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas

Christmas is indeed a special time of the year – a time of anticipation and unfortunately for most of us high anxiety. The stress/anxiety of the holiday does not just revolve around family obligations but includes that area of life where so much of our waking time is spent – the workplace.

Gift giving, a central part of Christmas, presents special concerns in an office setting. You must be mindful before purchasing gifts for coworkers, bosses, those who report directly to you and support staff. First, who is included? If you are in a new position, ask fellow workers what is the precedence or if there is a policy in place regarding gift giving. A gift says a lot about how you feel about a person, their worth, and closeness to you. It is almost never a good idea to give a gift that is too intimate like perfume or, God forbid, sleepwear. Another area to be leery of is a humorous or gag gift – unless this is specifically outlined as an office tradition. Remember everyone has a unique sense of humor and what you think is hysterically funny, another might find offensive. Consider the person. Summer sausage to a vegetarian? A nativity set to a Jewish colleague? A large box of chocolates to an obese office mate? A flask for the guy noted to overdo on the rum punch?

USE YOUR HEAD FOR GOODNESS SAKE. YOU BETTER WATCH OUT. YOU’D BETTER BE GOOD FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!! Santa Claus is coming to town.

Consider some of the following guidelines when purchasing a holiday gift for coworkers:

Keep it practical and under $20. (Sometimes offices set an agreed upon limit; this is a good thing.) Some suggestions for practical gifts – desk speakers, picture frames, music gift cards, USB flash drives, ear bud headphones.
Fire up the oven and prepare goodies to share with everyone.
Institute a Secret Santa. That way it is understood that everyone buys one gift and gets one gift. There are so fun ways to do this. Ever heard of dirty Santa where you can “steal” a gift from someone who has already opened his/her gift or go to the Santa sack for something still wrapped?
Arrange and participate in a pot luck dinner or a cookie exchange.
One of my favorites – sponsor a charity such as shopping for a family in need and all contribute to that.

A gift for the boss???

What is a good idea when it comes to gifting the boss? Should you? Will you be seen as a suck up if you do? It is best to not give an individual gift but opt to participate in a group gift – perhaps give a gift to charity in the name of your boss. He has to be thrilled or appear a Scrooge. Bah humbug employees!! According to etiquette expert Emily Post, just don’t do it.

A gift for those that report directly to you???

This is your call but if you do, it should be done across the board. Consider something impersonal such as gift certificates, tickets to the theater or a sporting event, wine, or food baskets.

A gift for helpers and service staffers???

You may want to remember those who support the company in positions that are not always seen yet assist everyone indirectly in accomplishing their jobs. People that clean, work in the mailroom or assist in low profile, minimum wage jobs might appreciate a group gift of money.

And finally, if you have a few coworkers who are special to you and you want to remember them at Christmas, be discreet in gifting them. Perhaps you could give your gift outside the office. It is also a good idea to cover possible embarrassment and have a few wrapped, impersonal, non-gender specific gifts to give to someone who surprises you with a gift.

“What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.” Phyllis Diller

Happy Holidays to all and check yourself for the office Christmas party – be sure to check out this related post Holiday Office Party mishaps.

July 31, 2013 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

QUITTING YOUR JOB WITH STYLE

Quitters never win and winners never quit – Hmm not exactly, but quitting your job is one of the most difficult life decisions you ever make and should involve a great deal of soul searching and planning.

BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO

The next best thing to quitting your job is fantasying about quitting your job. I have never met anyone who at some point in his or her career has not quit a job or explored the possibilities of doing so – not surprising since our business is the task of finding and attracting the top talent to our clients. If everyone was perfectly satisfied with their job, we wouldn’t have one!

Some tips before making this hugely important decision: Make sure it is really what you want to do. Weigh the options of a new job (and we absolutely recommend you have one before you quit), with your current one. Warning: if you have no new job on the horizon, you will mostly likely have a lengthier search. It is true that is easier to find a job when you have one. Consider flexibility, salary and benefits, responsibilities, opportunities to advance and not just salary when evaluating a new opportunity.

Once you have made sure that resigning from your job is really what you want to do, do it the right way with class and professionalism. Sure part of the job leaving fantasy involves telling off an obnoxious boss, going for the dramatic exit (You won’t have me to kick around anymore you arrogant, incompetent, airhead, bastard/biddy, bonehead, ding dong, jerk, zilch, zero, windbag. Oh man, the names you could use but DON’T DO IT.

Getting it off your chest feels so good in your fantasy, but again, DON’T DO IT. Have the fun of thinking it, and then consider the necessary steps to leaving your current job in a professional manner that will insure you receive a positive recommendation and leave bosses and coworkers alike thinking you are a “class act.”

Todd Defren, CEO of SHIFT Communications writes an open letter to workers who are planning to quit a job. Defren thinks that a graceful exit from the workplace is a lost art, particularly among millennials. His suggestions include making a plan to be positive. Try to put yourself in your employer’s shoes when choosing timing. Give appropriate notice. For most positions a two week notice is customary. The only exception to that typical two week notice would be for those leaving C-level positions or those where a longer expectation for separation is spelled out in the employment contract. A hasty departure can be seen as a lack of integrity and it can come back to haunt you. Do not spend your last days on the job complaining. Leave a full account of your projects with a memo of “to dos.” Lastly, Defren recommends that a person stay in touch –really. Consider your soon to be previous boss to be part of an extended professional network. Remember that your last impression can be as important as your first.

Consider the necessary steps to leaving your current job the right way. In addition to offering appropriate notice, for your position and write a formal resignation letter. About Dot Com has a good resource with advice and sample resignation letters. Remember to not say too much and to emphasize the positive as well as your gratitude for the opportunity and how the company benefitted you. Depending on your situation, you can offer to help during the transition caused by your resignation.

BEFORE YOU PUT ANY OF THE RESIGNATION STEPS INTO MOTION make the decision to leave when you are not acting in the grip of emotion and reacting on adrenaline. It can be a smart move to discuss your plans to resign with a close friend, family member or therapist, and/or a colleague if you are certain you can trust him or her completely.

The thing to remember is that sometimes a company will fire an employee and sometimes an employee will fire their employer. If you think it is time to give your employer the boot, involve a recruiter. He or she can offer good advice from years of experience advising people who are transitioning to the next step in their career. The team at Strategic Recruitment Solutions is always ready to assist and guide you to opportunities that will take YOUR career to the next level.