The Walls Have Ears, So Speak Accordingly

I have been informed by a few people and news articles that there is spying going on in some workplaces, including employers being able to monitor phone calls and emails. Not only that, some nearby workers take sound bites from hearsay by the water coolers and lunch rooms. It should be no surprise that there is very little privacy any more - unless you stay in the bathroom all day.

First of all, you don't know who is 'keylogging' your computer habits or listening into or recording phone calls, so it should be no surprise that it may be happening to you at work and it appears to be a trend in this information age.

Scanning the airwaves
I once knew a guy who had a radio scanner and he could pick up transmissions from cell phones and two-way radios as well as land-lines, so long as a cell phone was connected to it. He couldn't do anything with the information, because it was unethical and illegal, but his scanner was bought legally, so he could still listen in whenever he wanted. Many neighborhood converstions were there for his listening pleasure.

Big brother is watching, but not speaking
It should be noted that many authorities who spy on the public, looking for the bad people, but seeing what the good are up to, are often not allowed to use the information they collect. They are really looking for bad stuff, but can stumble on just about anything with the right tools.

So, there are eyes and ears everywhere.

The problem with gossip at work
People tend to gossip about negative situations at work because dirt is much more interesting than purity. If we did things perfectly correct every time and wore a perfect smile, people would make fun of you because you are perfect. But, there's no such thing as a perfect world.

People 'want the dirt' because it makes the workplace more interesting and breaks up the monotony. So, monotony appears to be a problem. I'd rather hear about an advancement someone has made to a process to make work easier and to progress rather than hear about everybody's dirt.

But, dirt is not always dirty!
Dirt, monotony and compromised productivity make for a poor workplace. Instead of spreading problems around, perhaps people could discuss problems and perhaps suggest improvments, rather than waste time gossiping for the sake of gossiping.

Dirt is a sign of entropy and if treated as such, it can be fixed IF those directly involved are willing to take the initiative. If your kitchen is filthy and you never clean it, it will take longer to cook your dinner. Cleaning is simply and so obviously a way of maintaining cleanliness. As a restaurant employee years ago, we were constantly reminded to 'clean as you go', but I'm amazed at how many workplaces don't think about their staff in the same way.

How to keep the dirt clean
There are a couple of things anybody could do at work to avoid animosity and turn gossip into constructive criticism. Because we are very emotional beings, these steps may require some effort to implement. Here they are:

1) ALWAYS communicate as if you are going on record. I carefully craft my words when communicating in different work environments and speak as if they are standing right in front of me. I imagine their face when reacting to what I say and expect to turn a scowl into a smile by what I say. It simply works because it forces you to be professional, sincere and pleasant. I write emails the same way. This step can help you avoid getting fired as well.

2) Offer suggestions for improvment. After discussing the problems, offer solutions with whomever you are talking to so you can have an intelligent conversation.

3) Communicate with those directly involved. Think about how you are going to bring up the topic before you do it and consider all outcomes, then be sure to bring your solutions to the person in question. He or she might initially be upset, but the outcome should be positive. If not, go higher; some people just cannot be reasoned with by peers - they need to hear it from higher up. BUT, never threaten them with an ultimatum, just mention you would like to help resolve the problem.

4) Sensitive or private information should either be challenged or ignored. You can ask the 'reporter' where they got their information, but you may never be able to say anything about it ever again. Also, be careful of who you discuss it with - some information should just be left alone.

Help promote a healthy workplace by cleaning up the dirt as you go, or leave it in the sandbox.

Frustration & Productivity in the Workplace

If downsizing means getting people to do more work in less time, doing so without proper planning is like taking one step forward, two steps back and is usually a sign of weak or lagging leadership.

Downsizing aside, changes in the workplace can lead to the same thing. If somebody feels the effects of pressure to do more, they should feel like they are allowed to speak up and address the situation in a formal or semi-formal meeting and be sure to take minutes of the meeting. There should be a record of what was talked about so it can be referred to should any problems arise. However, a meeting is of little use if the issues are ignored.

Not going according to plan following a meeting can cause frustration as much as over-work and multi-tasking can. In fact, I have seen the results of multi-tasking resulting from poor planning and it never fails to amaze me when the precious details fall through the cracks.

Everybody messes up now and then, but when it happens repeatedly, there is a problem. It takes a good leader to recognize the problems and come up with viable solutions that can be discussed with those involved.

All workplaces evolve and that is one thing that should be discussed in meetings, follow-up meetings and even job interviews in order to minimize frustration and increase productivity. People must understand that changes will occur and be encouraged to address any problems that may arise from the changes, rather than keep their feelings bottled up - they must feel like they are a part of the company's progress in order to avoid resistance.

People in leadership positions cannot simply change things because it works for them, they must understand any possible outcomes and the only way they can do that is to communicate with the people directly involved by encouraging feedback.

Suggestions for implementing changes and avoiding resistance:
1) as a leader, write down your intended changes and possibly draw a flowchart to identify potential problems
2) ask those directly involved what they think about the changes
3) encourage others to come forward when and if problems arise
4) fix the problems
5) meet regularly to discuss

Suggestions for multi-tasking, if you must:
1) write down your daily tasks
2) do the simple ones first and check them off the list
3) do the difficult thinking as early as possible, so you don't get 'brain-tired'
4) hold the phone and emails until you finish what's in front of you
5) don't let yourself be sidetracked - make no promises to those with trivial matters (let them know you will look into it when you are done with what's in front of you)

- Buck Moore

Hybrid Careers Have No Titles

When people ask me what I do, I don't have a simple answer. Besides trying to take over the world, I manage several projects including digital media content creation, public speaking, audiovisual services, writing and instructing. I can't really say I am a '_____' or a '_____' because definitive titles are too constricting and don't match my personality or work beliefs.

As a result of this style of working, I am always going back and forth between work locations, taking mid-day meetings here and there, preparing my speeches and presentations, renting cars and there was a time period when I was flying away six times a year. I don't like to be in one location for too long.

My career as a part time career college instructor has been going for several years, my freelance business activities have been steady for several more and my public speaking activities have been developing for some time now. I chose the lifestyle of a hybrid career and I like it, but it doesn't come without it's issues.

Pros of my hybrid career
- Free time! I have lots of free time to work on promotional materials and write for my webpages and upcoming books.
- I get paid and I charge for services.
- There is not a lot of formal 'bossing' (seen as an expert /professional).
- I can say no to work and get (or refer) someone else.
- Promotional materials and computer gear mean tax advantages.
- I get to work with all sorts of equipment, old and new - and learn new technologies.
- I can meet a lot of people.
- I am exposed to many industries.
- I get to learn for free.
- I can hire freelancers.

Cons of my hybrid career
- No work, no pay!
- No sick days.
- No employee benefits.
- Sink or swim - I have to be a step ahead to plan paydays.
- I sometimes have to chase people down for money.
- Bill-paying can become a nightmarish game, if you let it.
- Some days are really, really, really long.
- I HAVE to do a great job, or someone else will.
- It's much easier for a company to stop calling you than to fire you!
- If I DO get a contract, I must fulfill your obligations.
- I can have four deadlines at once.
- I can't be in two places at once, so I have to pay freelancers sometimes.
- I have to get up VERY early, sometimes.
- I might not see the sun and occassionally have irregular sleep patterns.

It may look a little heavy on the 'con' list, but I'm not comparing exact numbers of pros and cons. If you ask: "Would you change anything if you could?" I'd say: "Of course...and I often do." It's a matter of career evolution in order to produce my life's work.