competely politically incorrect

This is not a work related post but political. I just can not get this out of my head, and since this is my blog, I figured I could write whatever I wanted.
Yesterday, I read that the tea party founder asked Keith Ellison to be voted out for being a muslim! then he had the audacity to further clarify his views!
Whats more shocking is that Yahoo, CNN and all those big news channels don't see this as news! but; oh yes, Miley Cyrus's parents divorce is national news!
I mean I am not a very political person. Honest, I don't give a fig if your left or right wing! I just treat the other person how I want to be treated. RESPECTFULLY!
America is supposed to set an example for people around the world on how to behave and tackle issues, and this is the example we set?
America is supposed to be the land of the free. But what I have discovered is America is now the land of: the bigots, the racists, the liberals, the conservatives, the sexists, the industrialist, the socialist, the capitalist, the lazy, the ignorant, the extremists!
Wow!
This is off tangent but anyway, this year in California a girl was raped publicly. People actually watched, taped it, posted it on you tube, drank beers while watching and even called friends to come and watch!
Did anyone call 911? NOPE.
The above scenario (which is true) and the fact that no one has called out the founder of the tea part on his racist remarks makes it seem to me: that in America we are now deciding to watch and enjoy people get abused or victimized instead of trying to stop it.
So America is not the land of the brave and the free. It is the land of the sleazy and the conformists.
Shame on us! We used to be great and set an example and now, we are creating our own downfall much like we read about the great roman downfall.
We study and teach history in schools, colleges. But we still have not learnt from it.
And there is a saying by the old (who are supposed to wiser, and in this case I agree, that they were wiser) "Know History, for those who don't know it; often repeat it!" and we are repeating history, just not in a glorious American way.

how to give up authority effectively and still be in-charge

I work as an IT consultant, mainly in BI services. Means I study market trends for whatever I work for and see how their current IT system uses those trends to do analysis, how to improve that system and how to get reports that actually are easy to use. So that means I'm a 28 year old who goes around telling older people "yeah well your way sucks, this is how you do it" A LOT! (I say it in a much nicer way; my mama taught me wonderful manners)
And I also own my own Montessori so I'm in charge of 12 teachers and about 50 kids aged (0 to 13).
Some days are easy; others manage to suck the life right out of me. But anyway, back to the point.
Point is : I'm in a position of a boss, team lead, and a project lead a lot. Initially, I thought if I let someone else do it, why will anyone hire me. But I started getting burnt out and resenting waking up.
I learnt this: to be a good leader you have to delegate tasks to the team. But delegate based on the skill set of each team member. And have daily 10 minute face time with team members to make sure you are all on the same page.
Also, never directly put down anyone, get someone else to deliver the bad news. Because trust me 'everyone shoots the messenger'.
And most important always use the 3 strike rule; that means 3rd time anyone (and I mean anyone) screws up on the job you cut your losses. It keeps your team on its toes. It sounds harsh but Bill Gates used to yell at people at Microsoft if they messed up; if you read about Microsoft you will realize it was a high strung work environment.
Also you know how your mama always says "learn to pick your battles". Its true. This applies to life and work, pick your battles wisely, sometimes an issue or disagreement is not worth acknowledging.
I say this a lot at work "and i completely agree with you." But honestly, I don't completely agree ever (just ask my family). But sometimes it helps to settle down the team and just push to get the job done and deliver the milestone.
All work battles should focus on making the company succeed in the project. Work battles should never be about your ego or your pride. Learn to be humble and leave the cocky attitude for happy hour or for when you get an achievement award.

Things never to say to your boss

I'm not sure why anyone in their right mind would say these things but people have said them. And I'm just left there thinking "WHY!?!"

1. I'm broke\in debt\close to being bankrupt. (your financial concerns are your own buddy.I don't care. I have my own finances to worry about.)

2. I'm only doing this job for the money. (NO shit! me too! but I'm not ever saying that and you shouldn't either.)

3. I partied SO hard last night. (so?!? take an ibuprofen, or an alka seltzer; but, damn it! get your part of the work done. The only one going down if we miss the deadline is you and I'm gonna make it known it was you and not me who slacked off!)

4. It's not my fault. ( that's just lame. If its really not your fault say "lets get to the bottom of this" or say "so how can we fix this?" Don't try to shrug off responsibility, thats just lazy.)

5. I'm bored. ( really? then why don't you ask me if i have some work i can delegate to you. don't just sit there on your ass.)

6. I can't work with him\her. (what are you 5? buck up and get the job done.)

7. Roll your eyes\ Sigh\Grimace. (didn't your mama teach you any manners?)

8. Do it yourself. (this isn't home depot or ikea. I shouldn't even have to explain why you should never say this.)

Honestly, Ive heard people around at work say and do these things. Please don't say or do any of the above. Never before in the history of saying has a saying more aptly been used: "Please think before you speak or leap."

use your vacation time don't lose it

This year one of my colleagues took their first vacation in six years! wow!
I mean my co-worker is great at what he does but six years no vacation! I don't think at a good idea. I'd go nuts (and if i go any nuttier i might be sent to the loony bin, OK getting off tangent..)
We all need to take time off. Its good for you to take that break from work and re-charge yourself to get energized.
Don't lose that vacation time. Take it, go to that place you were always thinking of going to. I mean why keep dreaming about it. Go ahead and make that dream a reality; and take pictures to have memories of that happy reality.
Put those pictures up in your cube; it gives you an interesting story to share with people who drop by and it makes you look fun, adventurous. People like outgoing people, they associate it with "a can- do" attitude. And that's the type of attitude the mangers want in their team.
Also, when you're stressed out looking at those pictures reminds you of a fun time, that will instantly relax you. Which is great because trust me; its a pain in the ass to be stressed at work with no escape.
So use your vacation time don't lose it!
(And if you're hell bent on not using it, at least ask if they can pay out the vacation time; and if they do then please buy yourself something nice. )

Work and Facebook

Recently, we laid off a person who had posted pics of themselves partying pretty hard on facebook. I personally, have no sympathy for the idiot.
I mean seriously, facebook has privacy settings. Learn to use them. If you add co-workers on your facebook. Put them in a list titled co-workers and then just give them access to stuff that makes you look sane and fun.
I mean seriously? How stupid can you get? Call in sick, then party and then post pics of yourself on facebook. I think you deserve to be laid off.
Also, if you are going to add everyone at work then at list use the photo album privacy options to prevent people at work seeing "how you party like a rock star".
Nope, I have no sympathy for idiots. They deserve whatever they get.
If your going to party when you call in sick at least be smart about it.

is your communication style like a tweet

Recently I got an an email with only a subject heading "meet me in the large hall, the new one." First off target corporation, where i work, has many large halls; secondly we are constantly adding a new hall!
Point is the email was just like a twitter feed. At work when sending emails please write a complete and proper message. Think of it like you're writing a paper for your english teacher: grammar, spelling, punctuation, politesse all should be up to par.
Do not send an email with just a subject heading as the entire email; unless you are sending it to your friends or family; or unless you are the boss.
There is a reason outlook has To, CC, Bcc, Subject, Body all set out for us. It is for office communication to be clear.
Remember how you bragged about excellent verbal and written skills in your job interview. Well by all means show them off!
Twitter feed and Facebook status like emails do not make you look professional. So unless you work for Mashable or Facebook please write very clearly in the body of the email why you are writing, what you need from the other person, and when you need it by.
Make sure there is little room for miscommunication. Your boss and team will appreciate it greatly.

Stupid things NOT to say at work

I do not know why people think it's OK to say these things. But here's a list of things you should definitely not say at work:

1. When someone politely asks "how are you?" Please do not say "sleepy". WTF!?! you want to get laid off??
2. Do not curse at work! Its crass.
3. Do not gossip about other co-workers. If someone else is gossiping and you are there listen and if your opinion is solicited say something considerate don't add fuel to the fire! (these people are not your bum chums but work colleagues! there is a reason why people say do not mix business with pleasure)
4. If your having an affair with a co-worker tell HR but not me! I do not care and do not want to know. Makes it weird when i speak to the other person, i now have strange mental images I could have spent my life without envisioning.
5. Do not talk loudly, or laugh loudly. There are other people at work, trying to do their jobs. Be polite and get a conference room or an enclave.
6. Do not dish out TMI about your personal life or your health issues or your femine biology. I am pretending to care but quiet honestly unless your my friend, or I know you personally I do not care and am hoping and praying that you stop SOON.

If you have more things not to do. Let me know.

do you want a corner office

Someone forwarded this article to me. I read it and thought, what the ?!!?!
so lets go through this article bullet by bullet point. (article courtesy from: nice girls don't get the corner office 101 by Lois P Frankel, PH D)

1. Women tend to speak softly (you are not heard). This is true you do need to keep your voice audible but I've never met a whisperer at work. So unless you mumble at meeting I'm not sure how this applies.
2. Women groom in public. Emphasize femininity de-emphasize capability. First off Ive never seen even the most insipid women applying gloss or face powder at a meeting , most just do it in their cube or in the bathroom. And thats good because trust me everyone responds better to a better looking person. Its a fact of life.
3. Speak last in meetings. I disagree, sometimes it pays to listen to what people have to say, i do suggest interjecting your opinion at intervals where it is applicable but there is no need to talk just for the sake of being heard.
4. Women ask permission. Well if your going to take work that isn't in your bucket but could potentially be yours do ask, maybe someone else is already on top of it.
5. Apologize. OK an apology goes a long way but just apologize once and then drop it. Don't keep apologizing that's just annoying.
6. Smile inappropriately. Unless your dishing out come hither smiles, smile away by all means. No one likes grumpy!
7. Play fair. You have to play fair, but be smart. Highlight your accomplishment first and then say, and of course so and so contributed too; it was team work all the way.
8. Being invisible. I'm not sure how any one does this, maybe they borrowed harry potters invisibility cloak. That might be useful actually, do let me know how i can get one.
9. Offer a limp handshake. This one i actually agree with. Most women don't shake hands with enthusiasm. But yea make sure your palms aren't sweaty, that's just nasty.

So that's my break down on the article. And personally, I think being feminine and using a little bit of common sense is all you need to succeed. Because being a woman we hold more cards than we think in our hands.

when its just best to ignore the boss

Today my boss walked into the office and decided she was going to talk to everyone and make them feel welcome except me. She is ignoring me. Which is fine, i didn't get enough sleep last night so I prefer to be left alone today anyway.
Point is I'm not panicking and trying to get her to notice me. If i have something to run by or get my boss's approval on I will consult but I'm not trying to get her to notice me.
When my boss has something that falls in my bucket of work, it will come my way. I don't need to panic about it and have my boss sweet talk me every minute.
I'm narrating this because a few weeks ago, my boss went on an ignoring spree to another co worker. And my co-worker did everything except hang upside down to get the boss to notice her. Result: Nothing.
Bosses can be moody, and its okay. They are human after all. If your boss is ignoring you, that's fine just carry on like normal. Make sure you get your work done. When they get over whatever weird spell they are in, all will fall back into its normal routine.
Stop stressing about being fired, that will just make you screw up more; and furthermore, the boss needs a reason to fire you; no one can fire you on a whim!
If your doing your job right, there is no reason for anyone to fire you.
That's why we have an HR department! To make sure people aren't laid off unjustly.
So stop panicking about what the boss thinks. Just focus on your work.
Get the job done well and get it done right; you will get noticed and for the right reasons.

office politesse

everyday i walk into work and the same people ask me.. "hey, how are you?" Quiet honestly they don't care, they are rushing by as they ask me this, but they think I'm a nice person so the formality. I always answer "I'm great, and yourself?" I usually say this as I'm rushing past them too.
Too many times i see people don't acknowledge this polite greeting and just rush by. NOT GOOD.
first off you come across as rude, second you just mildly embarrassed the person greeting you. At work, everyday is kind off like running for the title "most popular". You have to be the fastest at delivery, the smartest at the meeting, the politest in argument and your utmost charming self. Anything less and your not really putting your best foot forward. You want every one at work to mention you in a positive light, no telling who will hear your review, could be your manager, or even your manager's manager! So at work you need to constantly have your A-game on, but wrap it up in your most charming and personable self. This is key in making sure people do not bitch about you. Because like good reviews, bad reviews also reach management too.

your manager is not your buddy

my manager is awesome! i actually really like her. but she is not my bum-chum. I keep our status job related and sometimes if she is sharing personal stuff i might share a similar experience with her, but i will always end the story in a way that reflects positive on me. Why?
Well because managers are constantly evaluating us. They have to its their job, its how they give you feed back or critique you to improve. So don't tell your manager about how you were upset because you didn't get a parking spot, or how you were almost in tears because a last minute change of plans meant, all your hard work was for nothing.
Imagine you and your manager go for a coffee run, your manger is going on and on about how she didn't find parking. Your ideal response should be "oh no." or just say " yea its always hard when that happens" and smile. But by no means go off on a rampage about how awful other drivers are, or how you wanted to kill the person who stole your parking spot!
I hate to break it to you; but managers have double standards they can whine and moan but if you do that well, then your just immature.
You want your manager to see you in the best light possible. So no matter what story you share, make it relevant and short (i hate long stories, they bore me), and most importantly make sure you shine !
You manager will subconsciously start associating you with positive results. Which will lead them to value your feedback and even solicit your opinion on projects as they develop more confidence in your ability to solve problems effectively and efficiently.
And that's exactly what you want.