You Shouldnt Talk About Work with Co-workers - The Muse

You Shouldnt Talk About Work with Co-workers - The MuseYou Shouldnt Talk About Work with Co-workers We spend a lot of time with the people we work with, and often in a tiny, compact space. If youre lucky, you have co-workers you actually want to spend time with outside the office- at happy hour down the street, at a team outing to a baseball game, or even at the occasional weekend meet-up.But even if you remove yourselves from the physical office, you probably find that youre still chatting about everything happening at your 9-to-5.This tendency to talk about work with your colleagues when youre bedrngnis actually there makes sense- after all, it is fruchtwein likely the first thing you have in common. However, its not in your best interest to make it your main point of discussion. Heres whyYoull Get Yourself Worked Up for NothingLets be honest. Often when were talking to our fellow employees about work, it quickly spirals in a negative direction. Especially when alcohol gets involve d. And the minute it takes that turn, the result of the conversation tends to be destructive. What starts out as a simple So, how do you like working with teddy boy? becomes Well, I like Ted as a person, but he writes the most annoying schmelzglass, and Did you notice he leaves early single day? All the dangers of gossiping about your colleagues aside, suddenly youve made Ted the focus of your happy hour- which might feel good in the moment, but wont leave you feeling great when you walk away and realized you trash-talked someone for an hour.And, if it doesnt turn into a rant about an individual, then perhaps its about the company overall. Before you know it, you and your cube-mate think you can run the business better than those currently in charge, and you spend the remainder of the night discussing everything thats wrong and how you would fix it. While you may have some decent suggestions on how to improve things, youre not going to accomplish anything in this manner. Your half-o ff beer may make you feel like youre on top of the world, but it would be much more effective to save your company overhaul recommendations for your next meeting with your manager. All this negative conversation does is exacerbate any adverse feelings you may already have about your job since youre highly unlikely to say or do anything positive or actionable in the moment. Work can be hard enough without this- no need to make it worse. Youre More Than Your Job- and So Is Your ColleagueBelieve it or not, that person you bump into by the coffee station every day is so much more than the guy who sits a few cubes away and sends you an email every so often (or 10 times a day). He has a life away from his desk and also had an identity prior to landing this gig. When we spend all of our time gabbing about work, we fail to see our colleagues as real people, just like us. Getting to know Ted for who he is- in addition to being a guy who manages product in the marketing department- will not o nly be so much more interesting, but will also help you understand him more as a co-worker. For example, did you know Ted has two kids and is responsible for picking them up from daycare every day (hence why he always runs out of the office at 545 on the dot)? Turns out he wasnt being rude when he told you that he would discuss that email with you tomorrow, he was running late to grab his daughters. Its Human Beings 101 The more you know about a person, the better youll understand his motivations- and the better you understand those, the easier it will be to work with him. Or, at least make small talk in the kitchen. Not to mention, all that non-work convo can also help broaden your world- the person you see in the elevator every day may have the coolest interests ever. And before you know it, you have a new passion all because she introduced you to it. Think about it You never wouldve discovered your love for podcasts had you spent every second venting about Ted.While talking about work may be cathartic at times, its ultimately not beneficial. So next time you and fellow team members hang out outside of work, try talking about something else. And, if worse comes to worst and you need a fallback topic of conversation, its okay to start with the weather. Especially during this balmy December.Photo of blah blah notes courtesy of Shutterstock.

How to Know When to Ask for Help at Work- The Muse

How to Know When to Ask for Help at Work- The MuseHow to Know When to Ask for Help at WorkNavigating tricky workplace decisions can be often feel just as stressful as trying to coordinate a get-together with all your friends in one email chain. There are so many (conflicting) messages about how to be a professional. Be proactive, but also measured. Take initiative, but also collaborate. Just figure it out, but also, know what you dont know.Small wonder that sometimes we dont know whether we should charge forward on our own or ask for help. Thankfully, there are some guidelines you can follow to know when you should go it alone- and when you should reach out for support.1. If Youre Capable, But a Little Afraid- Go for ItSeize these moments A little konservenbchse of fear keeps you motivated and helps you learn. If youve been given an assignment or responsibility thatll stretch your abilities, but you have a pretty good idea of how to accomplish it, take it.Are you a web copywriter bei ng given a chance at crafting your first landing page? Take it on and learn about conversions, calls-to-action, and more. Are you an administrative professional whos been in involved with every company veranstaltung for months and are now being asked to run point? Say yes and add event planning skills to your resume.Professional challenges- like projects just a bit little outside of your comfort zone - can lead to new opportunities and knowledge. While its true that you dont want to commit to something you cant follow through on, if theres only a slight skills gap from having never done something before, challenge yourself to step up to the plate. After all, thats how youll learn.2. But if You Dont Understand the Project Parameters- Ask for HelpIf you flat-out do not understand what youre being asked to do, you should always ask for clarification. Its easy to feel pressure to project independence and competence. But if you say, Got it and head off with no clue what youve even been a ssigned, everyone will suffer in the end. Whether your boss left you a cryptic memo or a client meeting was full of more cliches than clear feedback, if you dont ask for clarification, your final efforts will disappoint. So, reach out sooner rather than later. Try calmly repeating back what you think you heard What Im hearing you say is that I should pull the new dataplatzdeckchen before next Friday. Is that correct? Then, let the other person correct you and clarify if necessary.3. If Resources Abound and You Can Teach Yourself- Go for ItSo youve been given an assignment youre not entirely sure about. Is it something plenty of people have done before? Have they written about it? If yes, then do your research. A task that seemed beyond the pale for you may suddenly become a lot clearer after some time watching instructional YouTube videos and reading a few in-depth blog posts. Before you tell your boss, But, Ive never written a business plan Google how to do it. Keep in mind, if you r manager is coming to you with a new task, its likely because theres no go-to person on the team and she thinks it could be a good fit for you. You owe it to yourself to at least explore if this could be your new thing. (Bonus Having an expert niche makes you more valuable.)4. But If You Dont Know How to Do it- Ask for HelpThis one gets a bit confusing, because you just read that if youre on the bubble as to whether or not something is within reach, youre supposed to stretch yourself and consult online resources. And if you think you could maybe do something, ask your boss if you can get back to him. Then, take some time to think through how you might approach it and see if some reading will answer your questions. If after that step, you feel like you could be involved in the project, but youll need guidance, ask for help Take advantage of the people around you who may have done similar projects before. Is there someone in another department who could give you pointers? Can any of your teammates or coworkers show you how to get started?Now, if a project falls on the other side of the spectrum (a.k.a., you know offhand just asking for help wont be enough), be honest with yourself- and your manager. If youve been asked to write a code in Python and you dont know the language, its not the right assignment for you. So, rather than accepting and plan to ask for loads of help, your best bet is to suggest someone else with more experience run point- and ask if you can play a supporting role or help in some other way.5. If Only You Can Do it- Go for ItIm the only one who can do it may sound like the classic refrain of the office martyr, but sometimes, its true You could quite literally be the only person in the office who can do the task, for whatever reason. These cases will come up, and sometimes you just have to set aside all the well-meaning advice about asking for help when youre overloaded and learning to delegate. If youre it for the project, because your team mates are out sick, stuck in meetings across town, or some key position on your team was vacated and has yet to be filled youll just have to rise to the occasion.There are two things to keep in mind in this situation. First, if you do nothing, therell be zero people working on the task- and one is always better than zero Second, once you pull off your impressive one-woman show, dont be overly humble. You deserve credit for stepping up and adding this project to your list. Make sure your boss knows youre going above and beyond. The workplace can feel full of shoulds. You should develop the right skills. You should be assertive. You should be humble. You should be engaged. You should be a team player. You should be a leader. You should ask for assistance. You should take initiative and do it yourself.Truth talk Theres no one-size-fits-all answer. But a little self-awareness and a heavy dose of common sense can usually point you in the right direction when youre unsure whether to charg e ahead independently or ask for help. Photo of co-workers courtesy of Clerkenwell/Getty Images.

The Ron Swanson Guide to Job Searching

The Ron Swanson Guide to Job SearchingThe Ron Swanson Guide to Job Searching may be off the air, but our favorite curmudgeon Ron Swanson will never be forgotten. As the director of the parks department on the hit TV show, Ron Swansons disdain for, well, most everything and everyone doesnt make him seem like an inspirational source for job searching guidance. However, while an unlikely candidate, lets look at a few of Rons best quips and pick out the lessons we can learn through his cranky, yet hilarious, point of viewThe Ron Swanson Guide to Job SearchingI just want to get the work over as soon as possible so I can do some fishing. Fishing relaxes me. Its like yoga except I still get to kill something.The lesson Allow time for what you love. Job searching can be like having a full-time job. The constant searching, applying, and interviewing can feel endless. Take a cue from Ron and get outdoors or get active to release some stress. Its also not a badeanstalt idea to search for a flex ible job to allow time for what you love.When people get a little too chummy with me I like to call them by the wrong name to let them know I dont really care about them.The lesson Make sure you know the name of who youre talking to When youre job searching and writing multiple cover letters, it can be easy to write the wrong name of the HR director or hiring manager. When youre interviewing, it can be easy to forget the interviewers name, or worse yet, call them by the wrong name. Unlike Ron, you do not want a potential boss to think you dont careGive 100%. 110% is impossible. Only idiots recommend that.The lesson Dont overdo it in your job search. Think quality over quantity. Applying to every job you come across might seem like itll up your chances of getting hired, but all it will do is exhaust you. Apply to what you are qualified for and passionate about. Put 100 percent into those applications and the hiring managers will be sure to see your effort.Be proud of yourself. You de serve an award. Not this one, obviously. This one belongs to me. But some other one. Some other lesser award.The lesson Be proud of your job searching diligence. Reward yourself for small victories to motivate yourself. If others around you are getting new jobs or youve been rejected for jobs youve applied to, it may feel like youre getting the lesser award. Dont beat yourself up. Your award- a job- will come in time.Crying acceptable at funerals and the Grand Canyon.The lesson Dont get down about rejection. Wed like to think even Ron Swanson would be a little down about rejection. It hurts even the toughest of characters. Allow yourself to feel your emotions, but keep things in check. A negative or over-the-top reaction will only hinder your job search.Never half-ass two things. Whole-ass one thing.The lesson Put your all into sending out quality resumes and cover letters for a select amount of jobs. Dont haphazardly send out weak applications for many jobs. Prioritize your job sea rch above other things. Sure, you want to watch a few TV episodes and spend only 20 minutes applying to jobs, but a single focus on job searching is what you need to succeed.Teamwork. Very important. Equally important, selfishness. Take whats yoursThe lesson Believe that youre the best person for the job. Sure, in your normal life you put others before yourself. Your self sacrifice would impress most and probably make Ron Swanson roll his eyes. But when youre job searching and interviewing, a little selfishness may be needed. Do all that you can to show a hiring manager that you are the most qualified and take that jobReaders, what would you add to the Ron Swanson guide to job searching? Any other pieces of wisdom you can glean from his musings?